Eighty per cent of Britons are worried that the war in Iran will make food more expensive, according to a new Opinium poll, as retailers warn the government is running out of time to cut energy costs. The survey of 2,000 people found that 73% expect the conflict to push up prices of other products, while 81% are concerned about rising energy bills and 76% about petrol and diesel costs.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil and gas prices soaring, disrupted global fertiliser supplies and made shipping more expensive. These pressures are already affecting manufacturing and chemicals, which use large amounts of gas. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced additional support for the most energy-intensive businesses in April, but the retail sector is now calling for further action to prevent higher costs being passed on to shoppers.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said the war is “driving up costs across the supply chain and families are right to be concerned”. She urged ministers to remove non-commodity energy costs for retailers, which make up a large portion of electricity bills. “Other governments are already acting. Germany has reduced electricity costs for businesses by moving levies off bills and EU leaders are actively discussing similar responses. The UK should be moving in the same direction,” she added.
Food inflation is forecast to reach 7% by the end of the year, according to the Bank of England, driven by higher fertiliser, energy and transport costs. Official data shows food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 3.7% in the year to March 2026, up from 3.3% the previous month. Supermarket bosses met Reeves in early April to discuss the impact of the Middle East conflict on living costs. Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said capping energy prices for retailers was “the single biggest thing the government should do to keep prices down”.
Dickinson warned: “Retailers are working hard to hold prices down, but they cannot do it alone. Every cost government chooses not to address is a cost that will find its way into someone’s shopping basket. That is a political choice, and it is one ministers still have time to change – but the window to act is closing.” A government spokesperson said: “We are acting to protect people from any potential increases in food prices. We have already suspended select food tariffs and continue to work closely with the sector to keep household bills down.”
