Price rise on fruit and veg hits 14.7 per cent

An index compiled by retail analyst Verdict Research for the BBC has revealed an 8.3 per cent hike in food prices since January.

The price of fresh fruit and vegetables has risen by 14.7 per cent, while meat and fish registered the biggest price increases, up 22.9 per cent.

Verdict also uncovered price rises of almost 50 per cent on some individual items.

The BBC Food Price Index divides household supermarket purchases into 13 categories, including frozen foods, fresh fruit and vegetables, ready meals and dairy goods.