22 January 1999

Spud prices boiling

A SURGE in the price of fresh vegetables, notably potatoes, is being blamed for pushing inflation to 2.6% last month, 0.1% over the governments target.

Difficult lifting conditions are keeping potato prices on the boil. They are worth £170/t ex-farm compared with £78 last year, according to the British Potato Council. This is now feeding through to the high street, where prices of 76p/kg are typical, more than twice last years levels. &#42