The annual rate of shop price inflation has eased to its lowest level for almost two years, according to an industry reading that credits food and fashion prices.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Nielsen Shop Price Index showed the pace of price increases slowed to 2.5% over the 12 months to February from 2.9% the previous month.

It was the lowest reading since March 2022, the BRC said.

Money latest: How to get a pay rise

It was driven by a significant contribution from food, with prices 5% up on a year ago compared with the 6.1% figure registered at the end of January.

The report pointed to price drops for meat, fish and fruit helping fresh food inflation down to 3.4% from an annual rate of 4.9% just four weeks ago.

The BRC credited easing input costs for energy and fertiliser and “fierce” competition for cash-strapped shoppers among retailers.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

A separate report by Kantar Worldpanel, which logs supermarket price and sales data, also pointed to an easing in grocery price inflation but it believed food shoppers would be spared a big acceleration in prices ahead.

Its strategic insight director, Tom Steel, said: “Though there’s been lots of discussion about the impact the Red Sea shipping crisis might have on the cost of goods, supermarkets have been pulling out all the stops to keep prices down and help people manage their budgets.

“This month, Morrison’s became the latest retailer to launch a price match scheme with Aldi and Lidl, after Asda made the move in January.

“More generally, we saw promotions accelerate this month after a post-Christmas slowdown. Consumers’ spending on offers increased by 4% in February, worth £586m more than the same month in 2023.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The BRC pointed out rising costs for things like furniture and electrical goods but extended offers on fashion, to entice spending by customers, during February.

It saw risks ahead to slowing price growth from a series of issues including disruption to shipping in the Red Sea to minimum wage and business rates hikes planned for April.

Read more from Sky News:
Warning UK will miss out on economic growth without green plan
Supermarket to cut baby formula price after Sky News investigation

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Helen Dickinson, the BRC’s chief executive, said: “Easing supply chain pressures have begun to feed through to food prices, but significant uncertainties remain as geopolitical tensions rise.

“Prices of non-food goods will be more susceptible to shipping costs, which have risen due to the re-routing of imports around the Cape of Good Hope.

“Domestically, retailers face a major rise to their business rates bills in April, determined by last September’s sky-high inflation rate.

“April’s rates rise should be based on April’s inflation, and the chancellor should use the… budget to make this correction, supporting business investment and helping to drive down prices for consumers.”

Related posts:

Former Unilever veteran Banga lined up to lead government agency UKGI Shell plans to install 50,000 electric vehicle charging points across UK Banking tech provider ThoughtMachine lands ‘unicorn’ status with new funding Bank of England names successor to Andy Haldane as chief economist Shell boss bags 26% leap in annual pay package after COVID oil price recovery Energy chiefs beg Sunak for more financial support Recession warnings, electric vehicle charging and Duolingo Flutter investors brace for judge’s verdict on FanDuel stake sale Sainsbury’s in Nectar card shake-up – here’s what it could mean for you Final batch of Ford Fiesta cars being made today Gold to sell 10% stake in Premier League side West Ham Metro Bank to cut 20% of its workforce