Four in five consumers in the UK fear the ongoing conflict involving US President Donald Trump and Iran will lead to higher food prices, amid mounting concerns over rising fuel and supply chain costs, a new poll has revealed.
Research conducted by Opinium found that 80 per cent of Britons believe retailers will ultimately have to pass on increased operating costs to shoppers as fuel prices continue to climb. A further 73 per cent expect the conflict to push up the cost of other goods as well.
The Opinium survey suggested that the cost of living crisis would remain an important political issue beyond tomorrow’s local elections, and found that, of the 2,000 people polled, 81% were worried about rising energy bills, 76% about petrol and diesel and 68% about tax increases.
All of those factors could contribute to rising grocery prices, with the Bank of England forecasting food inflation to rise to 7% by the end of the year because of higher fertiliser, energy and transport costs.
Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 3.7% in the year to March 2026, according to official data, up from 3.3% the previous month.
The findings come as retailers and industry bodies warn that escalating energy, transport and fertiliser costs linked to disruption in the Middle East are placing further strain on already stretched supply chains.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has cautioned that the sector is facing rising pressures from higher shipping and distribution expenses alongside existing domestic cost burdens.
Earlier this week, a leading thinktank warned that UK food prices are on course to be around 50 per cent higher by November as compared with levels at the start of the cost-of-living crisis in mid-2021.
According to new analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), price increases which previously took nearly two decades could now be compressed into just over five years, almost quadrupling the historical pace of food inflation.