Stories

Sun, 17 May 2026

Sun, 17 May 2026 'Vicious circle of rising costs is fuelling crisis for traders'

"Dried apricots 12 months ago were £35 for a 12kg box, now they're £100 a box," says cheesemonger.
Food prices are continuing to rise due to increased costs of ingredients and fertilizers, creating a "vicious circle" that exacerbates the cost-of-living crisis. For The Northampton Cheese Company and The Northampton Charcuterie Company, owner Steve Reid said some ingredients have doubled in price over the past year. Dried apricots were £35 for 12kg in December but are now £100 per box, while sultanas went from £23 to £60. Farmer Philip Weston warned of further protests by farmers if the government does not take action to reduce fertilizer costs. "The cost-of-living crisis is affecting everybody," he said. Farmers and traders are calling for the government to provide more support amid rising costs. A government spokesperson claimed it was working closely with farming stakeholders, but critics argue that this is insufficient. Bank of England predicts a 7% rise in food prices by year-end.