Carrier Bags

In March the BRC Nielsen Shop Price Index (SPI) reported annual inflation rising to 2.0% from 1.9% in February. This marks the fourth consecutive month of rising shop price inflation. Overall inflation is being driven entirely by the food component, while the rate of non-food deflation has continued to fall since its peak in December 2008.

In March annual shop price inflation in Scotland remained at 2.9%. The reverse in the trend since December 2008 is consistent with that of the UK. It shows the pass-through of sterling's depreciation to consumer prices.