'Vicious circle of rising costs is fuelling crisis for traders'
Rising costs for food ingredients and fertilizers are creating a 'vicious circle' that is worsening the cost-of-living crisis for traders, farmers, and consumers, according to business owners in Northamptonshire. Farmers and market traders report steep price increases and are calling for more government support, including relief from proposed fertilizer taxes. The government says it is working with stakeholders and has taken steps to improve price transparency and reduce fuel costs for the agricultural sector.
- ▪Steve Reid, a cheesemonger in Northampton, said the price of dried apricots has risen from £35 to £100 per 12kg box over the past year.
- ▪Farmer Philip Weston warned that unless fertilizer costs decrease, he and others may reduce arable crop production.
- ▪The government has extended the 5p fuel duty cut until September and provides an 80% tax discount on red diesel, saving farmers around £300 million annually.
- ▪Maria Agachi, a Northampton shopper, said everyday items like salt have more than tripled in price since she moved to England five years ago.
- ▪The Bank of England has warned that food prices could rise by 7% by the end of the year.
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'Vicious circle of rising costs is fuelling crisis for traders'Just nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLaura Coffey,Northamptonshire political reporter, Northampton and HartwellandNic Rigby,Politics EastMartin Giles/BBCSteve Reid says the price of some ingredients has more than doubledIncreased prices for food ingredients and fertilizers are still pushing up costs for traders, farmers and consumers leading to a "vicious circle" fuelling a "cost-of-living crisis", a cheesemonger said.Steve Reid who owns The Northampton Cheese Company and The Northampton Charcuterie Company, told Politics East that some ingredients his companies use have more than doubled in price.While Philip Weston, a farmer from Hartwell, Northamptonshire, warned of further protests by farmers saying "The government…
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