Fish and chips, a beloved British culinary staple, has become the takeaway item with the fastest rising prices in the UK, The Telegraph reports, citing recent official data.
The average cost of a cod and chips has soared to nearly £10 (some $13), an increase of over 50 percent in the last five years.
According to the latest figures, the price of this traditional meal reached £9.88 in July 2024, a significant jump from £6.48 in July 2019. The rise in costs has been attributed to several factors, including inflation and the soaring prices of essential ingredients like potatoes and fish, driven in part by climate change and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to reports from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), restaurant and takeaway prices have risen across the board. Other popular takeaway options have also seen steep surges: kebabs are up 44 percent to £7.57, chicken and chips have risen by 42 percent to £6.70, and pizza prices have climbed by 30 percent to around £10.48. Chinese and Indian takeaways have also increased, each by 29 percent, with main dishes averaging £7.14 and £9.71, respectively.
The price hikes were particularly pronounced after the cost of living crisis began in 2022, which saw energy costs surge. Additionally, in March 2022, a 35 percent tariff on Russian seafood imports was enacted following the Ukrainian war, further driving up the cost of fish. Potato farmers have similarly faced challenges, struggling with poor yields of native varieties like Maris Piper due to adverse weather conditions and disease, leading to higher chip prices.
Tim Rooke, potato policy chair at the National Farmers’ Union, outlined the decline in potato production, stating that UK farmers are now receiving some three times the price for potatoes compared to 2019, largely due to poor harvests. Data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs indicates that the average cost of one kilogram of white potatoes has increased to 89p, a rise of 7p (9 percent) over the past five years.
Jon Long, owner of Long John’s Fish and Chips in Dorset, noted the significant cost pressures affecting the industry.
“We’ve had the perfect storm of events in terms of cost pressures,” he told the BBC. “It’s not a cheap meal anymore. I think it’s still good value, but it has become more expensive.”
The ONS has been tracking the average national costs of thousands of household items, revealing that olive oil has experienced the highest price increase over the past year, rising to £8.83 for 500ml. Other notable price surges include white sugar (up 70 percent), frozen beef burgers (up 67 percent), baked beans (up 66 percent), and large still bottles of water (up 64 percent).
In contrast, baking potatoes are one item that has seen a decrease in price, down 7.7 percent, while lemons remained unchanged at 32p since July 2019.
