Why food prices are rising

Britain imports over 40% of its food, and the drop in the value of sterling after the Brexit vote to leave the European Union (EU) has made those imports more costly.

The big retailers had insured against currency risk, but as 2017 unfolds they will have no other option but to raise prices for consumers.

Prices could also be pushed up by a potential reduction in subsidies for British farmers as a result of leaving the Common Agricultural Policy. And unless EU politicians strike a new deal on free movement of labour, EU workers currently doing low-wage jobs here will head home, putting food production and manufacturing costs in the UK under further upward pressure.

Next month: joanna investigates Fairtrade