Increases in the price of food are becoming a burden for many UK families who are already feeling the pinch of higher mortgage costs and fuel prices.

According to the latest Shop Price Index from the British Retail Consortium and pollsters Nielsen, food prices rose by 4.7 per cent last month compared with April 2007.

This was driven by increases in the cost of basic foodstuffs such as rice and corn, which have risen by 72 per cent and 29 per cent respectively in the last 12 months.

But despite the increases the BRC insists retailers are doing their best to protect consumers from rising prices by absorbing the higher costs themselves.

"There is no doubt food prices would be much higher if it wasn't for retailers' efforts to contain them," said director general Stephen Robertson.

Recent figures from the price tracking website Mysupermarket.com show that the annual food bill for an average UK family has risen by £800 in the last year.

Families struggling with the higher cost of essentials could find a personal loan helpful to repay existing debts and get their finances back on track.
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