20 items with the biggest price rises as inflation hits new record

UK inflation continued to rise last month, hitting a new record of 9.1% according to figures released today (22 June) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Price rises for energy, petrol and food are all contributing to the unprecedented rise in the cost of living, which saw the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) hit the highest level since the ONS’s current records began in the 1980s.

The ONS calculates inflation by measuring the price of a basket of goods and services a typical consumer purchases. Items are weighted depending on their importance and the amount we spend on them.

The CPI has risen rapidly in recent months, from 6.2% in February to 7% in March then 9% in April, before reaching the current level of 9.1%.

It means on average the cost of living was 9.1% higher in May 2022 compared to May 2021 – although there have been warnings that lower-income families, who spend a bigger chunk of their income on essentials like energy and food rather than luxuries, are facing even steeper inflation.

But which types of products are consumers facing the highest rates of inflation for?

NationalWorld has analysed the ONS figures to find the 20 specific goods and services that saw the biggest price rises last month.

Liquid fuels: up 122.6%

Energy items dominate the top of the inflation rankings in May.

Worst affected was liquid fuels, which includes domestic heating and lighting oils.

Prices have risen astronomically in the last year, with May’s inflation at 122.6% – more than 13 times higher than inflation as a whole.

NationalWorld has previously looked at the vulnerability of the 1.5m UK households living off grid and who are reliant on heating oil.

Natural gas and town gas: up 98.5%

Inflation for natural gas and town gas stood at 98.5%, meaning it cost almost double what it did in May 2021.

The majority of UK homes use natural gas to heat their homes. It is also used for cooking.

Andrew Forsey, director of charity Feeding Britain, says he is seriously concerned families are being priced out not just of buying food, but of preparing it too - you can watch NationalWorld’s full interview with him about price rises in UK supermarkets here.