BRC: Veg prices up 4.7 per cent

The price of vegetables on the shop shelf is up 4.7 per cent on last year, according to the British Retail Consortium.

The trade body said retail food prices rose in July for the third consecutive month.

The retail price increase has been put down to poor harvests this summer and rising fuel costs.

A Tesco spokesman said: “Obviously poor harvests and changes in market conditions can have an effect on availability of produce.

“When wholesale costs go up, some process will follow to reflect that change but we do all we can to keep prices as low as possible and deliver the best value for our customers.”