How much are food prices going to rise?

[LoveCleanLaundry]

Feeling anxious about rising prices from all angles, but especially in terms of worrying about loved ones already having a hard time making ends meet.

The price hikes in energy seem to have estimates as to how much they will be - wondering if there are any similar educated guesses as what food costs will be over the next year or so?

Depends a lot on what you buy.

But in the aggregate?

About 10%

I think it could be more than 10%. I read somewhere that we depend on ukraine a lot for wheat and sunflower oil. Also heard a radio 4 programme about something from russia being important for fertiliser - so that could affect lots of crops.

I think it will be the knock on effect on foodd production.

On a money programme they reckon we are already well past 10% in terms of the way normal households mean it.

Basic foods - a newspaper reckons food basic will increase by up to 50%

Yes it's the fertiliser as well as the energy costs involved in producing and transporting basically all foods that make it worrying.

Basic foods - a newspaper reckons food basic will increase by up to 50%

Jesus

@lightand

On a money programme they reckon we are already well past 10% in terms of the way normal households mean it.

Basic foods - a newspaper reckons food basic will increase by up to 50%

Bloody hell. Which newspaper?

Pasta is 50 percent the rest isn't that high.

I’ve been wondering this too.

I feel a bit nervous about the whole thing. Realistically at home I can use a hot water bottle and throw a jumper on but that doesn’t work for companies.

50%!? 10% we could absorb by changing what we buy but 50% would be a problem.

I'm extremely nervous about this, so much that I am emotionally exhausted now. Can just about afford the increase in energy and possibly petrol if I am very careful, but food as well is just a no.

Can I just say as an old gimmer, who has lived through times of inflation before, it sounds terrifying but you will cope. It sounds really trite but you find ways to economise and save that you never knew about before so please don't let these predictions worry you too much

Wheat is an issue. Prices are high. Fuel for transport and manufacture. Depends on the items. But let's say 10% minimum and work from there

The food we are eating now is made from last years crops. I fear this hasnt even started yet. Coffee, wheat and cooking oil is definitely supposed to go up. Just try to put back as much as you can without getting into debt. We are in for a rocky ride i think.

@QueenOfHiraeth

Can I just say as an old gimmer, who has lived through times of inflation before, it sounds terrifying but you will cope. It sounds really trite but you find ways to economise and save that you never knew about before so please don't let these predictions worry you too much

Coupled with the rise in energy prices for many many people there simply isn't enough to economise on

It's not that easy to find those ind of Savings if you're already living on a tight budget

@QueenOfHiraeth

Can I just say as an old gimmer, who has lived through times of inflation before, it sounds terrifying but you will cope. It sounds really trite but you find ways to economise and save that you never knew about before so please don't let these predictions worry you too much

I think I love you.

@QueenOfHiraeth

Can I just say as an old gimmer, who has lived through times of inflation before, it sounds terrifying but you will cope. It sounds really trite but you find ways to economise and save that you never knew about before so please don't let these predictions worry you too much

Well, I think worrying and panicking are two different things. While I'm not panicking (because, what's the point?) I think I'm right to be worried.

I agree you're right that many people will cope, of course, but some quite simply won't cope.

I have three family/ friends I am really worried about in particular, in dicey insecure situations due to ill health/ injury. One might feasibly be ok with some luck, as you say will find a way round it to cope - but the other two are genuinely very concerning.

Obviously depends on your diet, but I suspect people who are on a tighter budget will be hardest hit. Wheat costs will push up bread and pasta (supposedly 50%) both of which are food fillers. Canned goods will increase due to the use of aluminium, we use a lot of canned products - tomatoes, pulses, sardines. Sunflower oil will go up, depending on what it's made of vegetable oil could be affected - again useful products for those on a tighter budget - frying onion to make whatever tasty and adding whatever you have with some tomatoes, herbs or spices and then pasta.

As mentioned before, even before the current crisis, I read coffee was set to rocket.

If you can afford it it’s worth stocking up now if you see things you buy on offer. Particularly things like pasta which keep for years

It's not that easy to find those ind of Savings if you're already living on a tight budget
Depends how tight. For some I know very well that it's simply not doable but for many others you'd be surprised what you can adapt to. I'm on a single, full time low income with a teen and I know there are still many savings I could make if I had to as I've done it before.

QueenOfHiraeth

Can I just say as an old gimmer, who has lived through times of inflation before, it sounds terrifying but you will cope. It sounds really trite but you find ways to economise and save that you never knew about before so please don't let these predictions worry you too much

I think I love you.

Me too, such a sensible post. Of course we are all worried and some people will not cope but a lot of people fritter away money (myself included). It will be dreadful and then it will be ok again, these things are always cyclical

I fear it will be like the 70s when prices rose daily. It was common to pick up a tin of something in a supermarket with 3 or 4 price stickers on top of each other. Mortgage rate went up to 17%.
You find ways around it as @QueenOfHiraeth says. I think this is why I’m so low maintenance — it was all that belt tightening!

So much doom and gloom

We don’t really have space to stock up on anything (and I don’t mean stockpiling because that is selfish and horrible behaviour) but we have 4 kids and it is hard to think of them going without. I could add a packet of pasta or two to our weekly shops.

Mind you during lockdown we managed just fine when we couldn’t get certain things. Just adapted.

We are in a fortunate position to not be struggling and I would like to start adding more to food bank donations.

What is the most effective way to do this? Buying extra tins of beans/tomatoes/boxes of pasta going through Sainsbos and popping them in the box on the way out? Cash to food banks?

I imagine that imported foods will be the first to increase substantially; most of our wheat, pulses, tea, coffee, out of season fruit , rice and orange juice to name but a few might become too expensive.

We may have to rely on our own food production rather more but it will be sporadic and very seasonal.

As a farmer - it is not just the costs increasing, but the concern that there will not be enough food.

The cost of production is so high, that it is close to being unfeasible - electricity / diesel etc.

The cost of Nitrate / Fertilisers have increased to such a high level, that quite simply fields have not been fertilised - for grass or crops. The NFU are telling the government we are walking into a crisis.