UK retail shop prices rose in February by the largest month-on-month spike in a year and are expected to climb further after a period of deflation.
Shop prices in February climbed 0.4% compared to January levels, though they were 0.7% lower than they were a year ago, according to the British Retail Consortium and NielsenIQ.
Annual shop price inflation remained at the 0.7% decline seen in January.
The BRC expects food prices to be over 4% up by the second half of the year.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said month-on-month prices saw the biggest increase in the last year as breakfast items got more expensive, including butter, cheese, eggs, bread and cereals, with climbing global coffee prices also threatening to push costs higher in the coming months.
"In non-food, month on month prices rose as January Sales promotions ended, especially in electricals and furniture. But discounting is still widespread in fashion as retailers tried to entice customers against a backdrop of weak demand."
Prices at non-food shops might remain little moved in coming months, said Mike Watkins, head of retailer and business insight at NielsenIQ, as many household bills are increasing over the next few weeks.
"Shoppers will be looking carefully at their discretionary spend and this may help keep prices lower at non-food retailers. However the increase in food inflation is likely to encourage even more shoppers to seek out the savings available from supermarket loyalty schemes," he said.