Prices of staples such as pasta and tea soar in UK, hitting poorest hard

Price of budget food items in supermarket soar by 17% in year to September, ONS figures show

The prices of staples such as pasta, tea and chips have surged in the UK in the past year, with cooking oil shooting up 65%, according to figures that highlight how poorer households are being hit disproportionately by the cost of living crisis.

The overall price of budget food items in supermarkets soared by 17% in the year to the end of September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This was nearly double the 9% annual increase measured in the 12 months to April.