Shop price inflation hits another record high as cost of sugar leaves a sour taste

Prices rises for chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks increased this month

Price rises have hit chocolate just in time for Easter(PA) (PA Media)

Shop price inflation reached a record high this month, figures show – and there’s more misery for households in store as experts warn soaring food costs have yet to peak.

The increasing cost of sugar coupled with high manufacturing costs contributed to price rises for chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks, while fruit and vegetable prices also rose as poor harvests in Europe and North Africa limited availability, retailers said.

Shop prices are now 8.9 per cent higher than they were a year ago, up from February’s 8.4 per cent increase, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NielsenIQ index.