Back in July 2022, Bloomberg News created a ‘Full English Breakfast Index’ as an indicator of food inflation when the cost-of-living crisis began to show. It measures the cost of ingredients needed to make a traditional full English breakfast: sausages, bacon, eggs, bread, butter, tomatoes, mushrooms, milk, tea and coffee. Despite being a traditional component, baked beans were excluded as the Office for National Statistics doesn’t provide specific data for them.
The baseline was set at £31.40 but, less than a year later (May 2023), it rose by approx. 15% to £36.15. Sadly, the index was discontinued only 18 months after it started. But this got one thinking – what other food-based price indexes are there?
Believe it or not, there is a Freddo Index, started way back in 1973 when they first launched. Back then, a Freddo only cost 2p.
In 1979 the chocolatey little frog was withdrawn from the UK market due to low consumer demand. It wasn’t until 1994 it was re-launched at a new price of 10p which it remained at for 10 years.
2005 saw the price raise to 15p and steadily increase every 5 years or so. March 2025 recorded the price of our little chocolate friend at 35p, a 133% increase in price since 2005.
The iconic Greggs sausage roll, its baseline was set in 2016 at £0.98 and has seen price increases each year, but nowhere near at the rate of a Freddo. January 2025 saw the highest price at just £1.40, increasing by 42.9%.
Something that might be more of interest is the price of a pint of beer which starts in 1990 with an average price of £1.20. Beer, sadly, is something that has increased quite dramatically. The turn of the millennium saw the average price of £2.00 and in 2015, £3.20. 2025 saw the average price increase by 56% to £5.00.
Other indexes include The Big Mac and The Meal Deal.
But how does this compare with the average monthly income after tax in the UK? Well, in 2005, the average monthly income after tax was £1,241.67. This could have (not that anyone would) brought you 12,416 Freddos compared to 2025 (average earnings being £2,375) when you will only get 6,785. In 2015, you could have got yourselves 541 pints of beer (average earnings being £1,733.33) but in 2025 this falls to 475 pints of beer.
While these food and drink price indexes provide an interesting snapshot of inflation over the decades, they also highlight a more serious underlying issue: the growing pressure on household budgets. As the cost of everyday essentials continues to rise, many families across the UK are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.
The reality behind these statistics is that for millions of people, rising prices aren’t just about paying a bit more for a chocolate frog or a pint of beer, they’re about choosing between heating and eating, or falling into debt just to cover basic necessities.
If you or someone you know is struggling financially, it’s important to remember that help is available. Numerous UK charities offer free, confidential support for those facing money worries, debt problems, or financial stress:
- StepChange Debt Charity, the UK’s largest debt charity, provides expert debt advice and can help create personalized debt solutions.
- Citizens Advice offers comprehensive guidance on a wide range of financial issues, from budgeting and benefits to housing and employment concerns.
- Christians Against Poverty (CAP) provides free debt help through a network of local centres, offering both practical financial support and emotional wellbeing assistance.
- For those seeking immediate support, National Debtline operates a free, confidential helpline providing expert advice on dealing with debt problems.
- Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, grants, and other support services.
The next time you notice the price of your breakfast or your favourite treat creeping up, remember that you’re not alone in feeling the squeeze. These indexes may tell a story of rising prices, but they also remind us of the importance of seeking help when we need it.
NEED ADVICE? Here is how to contact our local Citizen’s Advice Bureau:
- CAB 1066 – 01424 869 352 – open 9:00am to 4:30pm for phone advice or to book face to face appointments at either:
- St Leonards: The Magnet Centre, Alfred Street, St Leonards on Sea TN38 0HD, or
- Bexhill: 40 St Leonards Road, Bexhill on Sea, TN40 1JB
- Tilling Green Community Centre, Mason Road, Rye (Wednesday only)
- No need to book an appointment – just turn up between 10.00am and 1.00pm
- CAB Hub on the Hill, Rye – 01797 331 800 (Wednesday only)
- No need to book an appointment – just turn up between 2.00pm and 4.30pm
- For more info, visit: https://www.citizensadvice1066.co.uk
