Lamb prices rise at highest rate among meat products

Lamb and fish prices have increased the most within the meat industry over the last three decades, according to new data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The price of Lamb has risen by 187.8% with fresh fish growing by 159.3% and fish increasing by 152.7%.

At the other end of the spectrum, poultry prices have risen at the slowest rate of 29 different food categories since 1987.

The ONS data revealed poultry prices had risen at around 1.8% a year on average and by just 46.6% between January 1987 and December 2013.

Beef, Pork and Fish have all more than doubled in price since 1987. Sweets and chocolate prices have risen by 186.4% and soft drinks by 153.6% over the same period. 

Much slower rate

Poultry prices have also risen at a much slower rate when compared to alcoholic drinks, household goods, personal goods and services and fares and other travel costs.

Andrew Large, British Poultry Council ceo, said the poultry industry was committed to providing nutritious and affordable products to consumers.

“Let’s be clear, this slow rate of growth is due to improved industry efficiencies over the past 26 years that have been passed on to consumers,” he claimed. “It has nothing to do with supermarket price wars. We are proud that almost half the meat eaten in the UK is poultry and look forward to increasing our sales in 2014.”