According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), food and non-alcoholic beverages made the largest downward contributions to the monthly change in consumer price inflation (CPI) annual rates.
The category also made the largest downward contributions to the monthly change in the consumer prices index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH).
Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices rose by 4.2% in the 12 months to November 2025, down from 4.9% in the 12 months to October. Month-to-month, food and non-alcoholic beverages prices fell by 0.2% in November 2025, compared with a rise of 0.5% a year ago.
ONS found that the main downward effect to the change in the rate came from bread and cereals, where the prices of products such as cakes, biscuits and breakfast cereals fell this year but rose a year ago.
It also found that there were other smaller downward effects from dairy products and the sugar, jam, syrups, chocolate and confectionary class.
Karen Betts, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), stated: “It’s good to see food inflation starting to fall, not least as shoppers fill their cupboards for the festive season. Nonetheless, food prices remain higher this Christmas than last and many consumers are having to make tough choices about what they buy this year.
“Manufacturers continue to work hard to cut costs and pass any potential savings on to consumers, but themselves continue to face significant cost pressures. To really impact this persistent food inflation, we need Government to redouble efforts with food businesses to reduce costs, like energy, and boost growth and productivity to bring down prices in the coming weeks and months across the food and drink supply chain.”
