UK shop price deflation weakest since December - BRC

LONDON (Reuters) - British shop prices fell in July at their slowest pace since the end of 2017 and food inflation picked up speed, according to data on Wednesday that will be little relief for households still feeling the pinch on their spending power.

FILE PHOTO: Customers shop in a Sainsbury's store in Redhill, Britain, March 27, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo

Overall prices paid by shoppers were 0.3 percent lower last month than in July 2017, down from a 0.5 percent fall in June and the smallest annual decline since December, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said.

Food prices rose by an annual 1.6 percent in July, up from 1.2 percent in June and May.

The BRC’s measure of shop prices has shown deflation for 63 consecutive months as retailers battle to win over shoppers, many of whom have had pay increases below the rate of inflation for much of the past decade.

BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson said food prices were pushed up by Europe’s cold spring and hot summer which would continue to keep pressure on prices in the months ahead.

The Bank of England says inflation, which stood at 2.4 percent in June, will slow this year from a peak of 3.1 percent in November. It is widely expected to raise interest rates on Thursday to guide inflation down to its 2 percent target.

Writing by William Schomberg, editing by Andy Bruce

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