London, British food prices rose at the fastest pace since 1980 last month, driving inflation back to a 40-year high.

Food prices jumped 14.6% in the year through September, led by the soaring cost of staples such as meat, bread, milk and eggs, the UK Office for National Statistics said today. That pushed consumer price inflation back to 10.1%, the highest since early 1982 and equal to the level last reached in July.

While the jump in food costs took the biggest bite out of household budgets in Britain last month, prices are rising across the board. Transportation costs jumped 10.9%, furniture and household goods rose 10.8%, and clothing was up 8.4%. Housing costs rose 9.3%, driven by the rising price of energy.

Source: Oman News Agency