UK CPIH annual rate: non-alcoholic beverages
UK CPIH annual rate: non-alcoholic beverages stood at 2.1% in Aug 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Consumer price inflation table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1989 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Consumer price inflation table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPIH annual rate by group | |||||||||||
| Non-alcoholic beverages | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3 | 3.8 | 5.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 6 | 6.5 | |
| Alcoholic beverages | -0.6 | -0.8 | -1.6 | -0.9 | -0.4 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
Understanding UK CPIH annual rate: non-alcoholic beverages
The UK CPIH annual rate for non-alcoholic beverages tracks the twelve-month percentage price variation for bottled waters, soft drinks, fruit juices, coffee, tea, and cocoa purchased across the United Kingdom. Operating as a distinct sub-group within the broader food and beverage classification, this series captures retail price shifts driven by fluctuations in global commodity markets for coffee beans and tea leaves, alongside domestic manufacturing and packaging costs. It deliberately excludes alcoholic drinks, which are monitored under a separate excise-regulated category.
Reading this indicator effectively involves noting the susceptibility of beverage input costs to international supply chain bottlenecks and weather anomalies affecting crop yields abroad. Analysts should rely on the annual percentage change to smooth out short-term promotional discounting common in beverage retailing. When conducting cross-sector comparisons, researchers must recognise that beverage price movements often decouple from broader grocery trends due to specific excise duties on sugary drinks and concentrated manufacturing ownership.
Frequently asked questions
- Are alcoholic beverages included in the non-alcoholic beverages inflation rate?
- No, alcoholic drinks are excluded from this series and tracked under their own dedicated alcoholic beverages classification.
- What global factors typically influence the movement of this inflation rate?
- International commodity market fluctuations for coffee, tea, and sugar, alongside packaging and transport costs, heavily influence this series.
- Why are month-on-month figures less reliable for analysing beverage prices?
- Frequent supermarket multi-buy promotions and seasonal rotation of stock create erratic monthly jumps that are better interpreted through annual trends.