Island food costs increase 13%

The cost of food in Jersey has gone up by 13% over the past year.

A new States report has found prices in the island have risen more than those in the UK.

The average cost of meat, fresh fruit and vegetables is higher and the rise is being attributed to the difference made by the Goods and Services Tax.

The government's preferred rate of inflation, which does not include mortgage payments and indirect taxes, was 3.9% in Jersey.

That is compared to 4.9% in the UK.

The Minister for Economic Development, Senator Phillip Ozouf, puts the rise in food prices down to the Goods and Services Tax which will be scrapped on food next year.