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<p>We are working hard to support everyone facing cost of living concerns. We continue
to monitor food prices using the ONS inflation figures. Recent pressures have been
sustained and we have seen food price inflation rise to 12.7% in July, up from 9.8%
in June. Defra analysis, based on ONS data, shows that every one percentage point
increase in food price inflation increases the average annual food bill of UK households
by £34.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is taking action to maintain an efficient food supply
chain by mitigating against any potential burdens or friction which could otherwise
drive up consumer food prices. For example, we have introduced labelling flexibility
to reduce additional cost burdens resulting from the availability of sunflower oil.
Defra is also holding regular discussions with industry to explore ways in which they
can support low-income households by ensuring affordable food remains available, for
example by maintaining value ranges, price matching, price freezing measures and the
use of loyalty card offers.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is committed to a sustainable,
long-term approach to tackling poverty and supporting people on lower incomes. We
recently announced a new £15 billion support package to help families with the cost
of living, bringing the total support for households this year to £37 billion. This
includes an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of household
essentials, on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total
funding for this support to £1.5 billion. In England this will take the form of an
extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £421m, running from 1 October 2022
to 31 March 2023. Devolved administrations will receive £79 million through the Barnett
formula. Details of allocations to Upper Tier and Unitary Councils can be found at:
<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1072446%2Fhousehold-support-fund-grant-determination.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C9fe4598b05aa4eae5ada08da8c26d647%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637976395678378553%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=abpi%2FPVNqwlTOVj496tbCT%2FxsYB036U346gbIjd1h4I%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">Household Support Fund Grant Determination 2022 No 31/3096 (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a>.</p>
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