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<p>October 2023 Consumer Price Index (CPI) food price inflation reported by the Office
for National Statistics (ONS) was 10.1%, down from 12.1% in September 2023 and the
lowest figure since June 2022.</p><p> </p><p>Overall CPI inflation dropped to 4.6%
in October from 6.7% in September 2023. This is now under half the overall rate recorded
by ONS at the start of the year.</p><p> </p><p>Through regular engagement, Defra will
continue to work with food retailers and producers to explore the range of measures
they can take to ensure the availability of affordable food, for example, by maintaining
value ranges, price matching and price freezing measures.</p><p> </p><p>Retailers
have introduced incentives for customers, such as new reward cards offering discounts
on products or 'cashback' on future purchases. A number of stores are also offering
meal deals either in store or within their cafes to help vulnerable groups.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government is providing significant support over this year and next – worth
on average £3,300 per household – which includes direct cash payments to the most
vulnerable households, as well as uprating benefits and the state pension by 10% in
April.</p><p> </p>
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