How the inflation rate for everyday items has changed

Inflation fell to a new two-and-a-half-year low in March as food price increases slowed sharply again.

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), inflation for food and non-alcoholic drinks fell to 4% from 5% in February, reaching its lowest level since November 2021.

A slowdown in price increases last month for many household food items was partly offset by higher fuel prices and a jump in inflation for a handful of items.

Gasoline remains cheaper than it was 12 months ago, although the 1.4 percent decline in the period to March was less than the 3.9 percent decline in the period to February, reflecting the recent rise in prices at the pump.

The same trend is affecting the cost of diesel, which fell by 7.4 percent last month compared to the same period last year, compared to a drop of 10.8 percent in February, according to Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures released by the ONS.

Inflation continues to rise for some everyday goods, including chips (price increase last month: 9.4 percent compared to 6.2 percent in February), soft drinks (price increase: 3.8 percent compared to 2.4 percent), chocolate (price increase: 9.8 percent compared to 8.9 percent) and eggs (price increase: 3.9 percent compared to 3.2 percent).

However, more and more products continue to experience negative inflation, meaning their prices are falling compared to the previous year.

The average cost of whole milk fell 11.1 percent in the 12 months to March, a slightly larger drop than the 10.2 percent decline in February. Low-fat milk prices fell 6.5 percent, broadly unchanged from the 6.6 percent decline in February.

The price of butter fell by 11.7 percent in March, an even greater drop than the previous month (7.6 percent). Used cars fell by 8.1 percent compared to a drop of 7.3 percent in February.

Frozen seafood saw an even sharper decline in March (minus 8.7%) than in February (minus 4.0%), as did cheese and curd (minus 1.6% compared to a decline of 0.3%).

Meanwhile, margarine and other vegetable fats are experiencing negative inflation. Their prices fell by 1.2 percent last month after rising by 0.2 percent in February.

The cost of air travel fell by 1.1 percent in March, after rising by 6.5 percent in February compared to the same period last year.

There were also sharp declines in the average prices of pasta and couscous, which rose by 5.0 percent in March (8.9 percent in February), women's clothing (5.2 percent in March (7.1 percent in February) and cinema, theater and concert tickets (5.4 percent in March (8.5 percent in February).

Below is a list of examples where the consumer price index inflation rate has slowed or accelerated.

For each item, two numbers are listed: the average price increase over the twelve months ending February, followed by the average price increase over the twelve months ending March.

The story continues

– Examples of a slowdown in inflation, sorted by the magnitude of the change:

Pasta and couscous: February +8.9%, March +5.0%
Sugar: February 17.6%, March 14.2%
Cinemas, theaters & concerts: Feb 8.5%, March 5.4%
Frozen vegetables except potatoes: February 11.7%, March 8.8%
Sauces, spices and herbs: February 8.2%, March 5.9%
Meat: February 5.0%, March 3.1%
Women’s clothing: February 7.1%, March 5.2%
Breakfast cereals: February 7.1%, March 5.6%
Fresh or chilled fruit: February 4.3%, March 2.8%
Children's clothing: February 5.7%, March 4.5%
Mineral or spring water: February 9.5%, March 8.3%
Potatoes: February 8.5%, March 7.6%
Passenger trains: Feb. 4.3%, March 3.4%
Rice: February 3.9%, March 3.3%
Fast food/takeaway: Feb. 6.6%, March 6.0%
Tea: February 7.2%, March 6.7%

– Examples of accelerating inflation:

Chips: February +6.2%, March +9.4%
Purchase of pets: February 9.2%, March 11.3%
Non-alcoholic beverages: February 2.4%, March 3.8%
Chocolate: February 8.9%, March 9.8%
Fruit and vegetable juices: February 7.7%, March 8.6%
Coffee: February 0.1%, March 0.8%
Eggs: February 3.2%, March 3.9%
Ready meals: Feb. 4.1%, March 4.6%
Pizza and quiche: February 1.0%, March 1.4%