This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45317023
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Food prices 'to rise 5%' because of extreme weather | Food prices 'to rise 5%' because of extreme weather |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Meat, vegetable and dairy prices are set to rise "at least" 5% in the coming months because of the UK's extreme weather this year, research suggests. | Meat, vegetable and dairy prices are set to rise "at least" 5% in the coming months because of the UK's extreme weather this year, research suggests. |
| Consultancy CEBR said 2018's big freeze and heatwave would end up costing consumers about £7 extra per month. | Consultancy CEBR said 2018's big freeze and heatwave would end up costing consumers about £7 extra per month. |
| It follows price warnings from farmers' representatives about peas, lettuces and potatoes. | It follows price warnings from farmers' representatives about peas, lettuces and potatoes. |
| Wholesale prices of other vegetables have already soared by up to 80% since the start of the year. | Wholesale prices of other vegetables have already soared by up to 80% since the start of the year. |
| But CEBR explained that these increases can take up to 18 months to fully have an effect on shoppers. | |
| "So, while the worst of the recent heat may have passed, the cost to consumers looks set to climb," it warned in a statement. | "So, while the worst of the recent heat may have passed, the cost to consumers looks set to climb," it warned in a statement. |
| The UK saw record temperatures in June, July and August which caused widespread drought and crop failures. | The UK saw record temperatures in June, July and August which caused widespread drought and crop failures. |
| This, along with a "wet, cold and challenging" winter, particularly the cold spell caused by the Beast from the East, has put stress on farming costs and yields, CEBR said. | This, along with a "wet, cold and challenging" winter, particularly the cold spell caused by the Beast from the East, has put stress on farming costs and yields, CEBR said. |
| As a result, it said: | As a result, it said: |
| "There's bad news for wine fans too, as severe hailstorms in the French wine regions of Bordeaux, Champagne and Cognac have eliminated millions of bottles of product," CEBR said. | "There's bad news for wine fans too, as severe hailstorms in the French wine regions of Bordeaux, Champagne and Cognac have eliminated millions of bottles of product," CEBR said. |
| It said these "wholesale price shocks" were likely to push up consumer costs by about £45m per week. That is equivalent to £1.79 per week per household. | It said these "wholesale price shocks" were likely to push up consumer costs by about £45m per week. That is equivalent to £1.79 per week per household. |
| 'Effectively bare' | |
| Tod Bulmer from Kenyon Hall Farm near Warrington said yields from his fruit and cereal harvest had been half of what he would normally expect. | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the potential price rise would compensate "a little bit but not enough". | |
| He added that the low yields meant dairy farmers were having to pay more for their feed. | |
| National Farmer's Union president Minette Batters said the shelves for feeding livestock are "effectively bare" and that dairy farmers were having to rely on silage meant for winter use. | |
| "Many farmers are looking at £60,000 of added costs," she said. | |
| She added that she was still waiting on the government to deliver on a promise to take action. | |
| Following a drought summit earlier this month with the NFU, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the government would do "whatever it takes" to maintain food supplies. | |
| Earlier this month, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board warned that livestock and vegetable prices would be a "little bit higher right the way through until next spring" because of weather issues. | Earlier this month, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board warned that livestock and vegetable prices would be a "little bit higher right the way through until next spring" because of weather issues. |
| Shortages of vegetables also helped drive food price inflation to 1.6% in July - up from the 1.2% in May and June, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen. | Shortages of vegetables also helped drive food price inflation to 1.6% in July - up from the 1.2% in May and June, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen. |
| A spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said steps had been taken to help affected farmers. | |
| They added that the hot weather had helped boost products such as fruit and wine. |