Severe shortages of UK vegetables send prices rocketing

There is no sign of food inflation abating in the UK, where potato, carrot and onion prices have hit their highest wholesale prices in over 40 years. The primary reason is deemed to be the weather, with a hot summer in 2022 followed by a deep freeze just before Christmas reducing yields and wiping out some crops.

Some core lines at major retailers have seen price jumps of over 70% since the start of the year. Stocks are almost finished as the season comes to a close, leaving some vegetable lines desperately short, with the situation unlikely to improve until next month at the earliest.