// UK inflation eased to 10.1% in March thanks to lower contributions from fashion and homeware

// However, food price inflation had its sharpest increase in 45 years increasing to 19.1%

UK Inflation slipped to 10.1% in March, down from 10.4 the month before, despite a record surge in food inflation.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported food prices rose to 19.1% last month, the sharpest increase in 45 years.

This was due to “record high” price inflation for bread, cereals and fruit as well as February’s vegetable shortages which continued to weigh on inflation at the beginning of the month.

Overall inflation was offset by downward contributions in other areas including clothing and footwear, which dropped from 8.1% to 7.2% in March.

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Furniture, household equipment and maintenance also fell from 8.7% in February to 8% last month.

British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “While households will be pleased to see that inflation may have passed its peak, prices are still high.

“Food prices, especially for fruit, vegetables and sugar, rose as poor harvests in Europe and North Africa reduced availability, and the weak pound made importing more expensive.

“Meanwhile, discounting helped inflation to ease in other areas such as furniture, and clothing & footwear.

Dickinson said despite food inflation and wider inflation likely to ease in the coming months, prices will remain high for consumers.

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