More than eight in ten UK adults are worried about food prices ahead of the Budget, according to Opinium polling of more than 2,000 adults commissioned by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The poll, reported on 28 October 2026, found 83% concerned about food prices and 82% concerned about inflation.

What the poll found

The BRC's Shop Price Monitor put shop price inflation at 2.1% in October, the highest since February 2024, with food prices up 2.9%. The consortium said retail faces £41 billion in business taxes for 2026/27, a 20% increase in two years, while employment costs are up £6.5 billion over the same period and 122,000 retail jobs have been lost.

What retailers are asking for

Without action, the BRC warned, business rates will rise by 3.5% in April 2027, adding about £250 million to retailers' costs. Retail's effective tax rate is nearly £3 paid in tax for every £4 of profit, or 72%, compared with 41% for the financial sector, according to the figures reported.

The BRC is calling on the Chancellor to raise the employer National Insurance threshold from £5,000 to £6,000, freeze the CPI-linked increase in business rates, and exempt retail premises from the high-value multiplier. Chief executive Helen Dickinson said the message from the public is clear: the cost of living remains a top concern.

Sources: Retail Bulletin and Retail Gazette.