Surging food prices push inflation to 30-year high

Prices have gone up at their fastest rate in nearly 30 years – but there is worse to come, experts have warned.

Soaring food costs and the energy bill crisis drove inflation to 5.4% in the 12 months to December, up from 5.1% the month before, in another blow to struggling families.

The last time inflation was higher was in March 1992, when it was 7.1%.