Food Prices Tracking | Food Foundation
We track prices of food in the UK and globally, and provide commentary and insight into the changes being seen and the impact on low income families.
foodfoundation.org.ukHere are the latest publicly available signals on food prices as of May 2026.
- Global snapshot: Food prices remain elevated relative to pre-pandemic levels in many regions, with ongoing volatility driven by supply tightness in meats and dairy, plus energy-related costs affecting production and transport. This aligns with recent CPI reports showing food inflation outpacing overall inflation in several major economies.[2][4]
- United States focus: In late 2025 and into 2026, U.S. food prices continued to rise at a modest pace overall, though some staples (meat, coffee, and dairy) posted larger increases while eggs and certain produce showed some relief after earlier spikes. Dining out prices also rose, reflecting labor and utility costs alongside food input pressures.[3][2]
- Regional variation: Trading Economics notes that food inflation trends varied by country, with notable declines in some Asian markets (e.g., China) in parts of 2026 due to improved supply, while other regions experienced persistent inflation in staples like rice, meat, and oils due to weather, tariffs, or supply constraints.[4]
- Media coverage in 2025–2026: Broad coverage highlights that price pressures are still perceptible to consumers—grocery aisles show year-on-year increases in multiple staples, and monthly price moves can be pronounced in periods of weather shocks or policy changes.[3]
What this means for London (you’re in London): UK food prices tend to track global commodity and energy trends but also respond to domestic factors like harvests, import costs (post-BREXIT dynamics), currency movements, and tariffs. Expect ongoing but uneven inflation in groceries over 2026, with potential monthly spikes around weather events or commodity shocks, and continued pressure on certain categories such as meat, dairy, and processed foods.
Illustrative examples (for context):
- Beef, coffee, and dairy commonly show higher volatility and larger year-on-year gains in many markets, a pattern echoed in U.S. CPI data and international reports this year.[2][3]
- Eggs and some produce have shown relief at times, but this is often temporary and region-specific depending on local avian-health factors and harvest outcomes.[2]
Would you like a concise 1-page briefing with current UK-specific grocery inflation numbers, recent Bank of England or ONS commentary, and a short forecast for the next quarter? I can pull UK sources and present a compact table and a chart if you want.