Pint prices could soar to £10.50 if inflation continues at current rate

The humble pint could get a hell of a lot more expensive if inflation continues to rise, bleak new analysis has revealed this week.

UK inflation is at 5.5% right now, with the average price of a pint in UK costing £3.96. However, this figure is forecast to rise to 7.25% by spring 2022, meaning that some places in the UK could be charging as much as £10.50 for one pint of beer by 2030.

And it won’t be your craft imperial ales costing this much, as mainstream lagers and beers are expected to be impacted in the price hike.

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Here in Manchester, the average cost of pint is £4.05, meaning it could rise to £7.09 by 2030. In Liverpool, a beer will set you back around £4.48, meaning it could cost as much as £7.84 in 2030 and, in Leeds, the average pint costs £3.83, which could rise to to £6.70.

Though don’t fret too much, because the current rates are mostly a reaction to the pandemic, meaning things like energy prices should start to fall again as demand returns to normal levels and interest rates creep back up and rebalance the economy.

Read More: Asda is trialling selling pints of draught beer in supermarkets

Roberto Rivero, market analyst at Admirals, said the inflation increase is a result of ‘soaring energy prices, labour shortages and the rising cost of raw materials’, all of which are pushing up input costs for businesses, ultimately putting upward pressure on prices.

He said: “Rising inflation should only be transitory until the economy is used to living with Covid. However, things are likely to get worse before getting better. If inflation continues to rise at a faster rate than wages, then the price of a pint would be the least of our concerns.

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“The hospitality sector would likely suffer as people began to prioritise spending on essential items and, although many of us may think that a pint of beer on a Friday night is essential, things like food and household goods will take priority for most.”

This comes as the cost of living continues to rise, with experts warning that it will only get higher in the coming months in what has been dubbed a ‘national crisis’.

Regulator Ofgem confirmed at the start of this month that there will be a 54% rise in the price cap from April 1st due to soaring wholesale gas prices, resulting in energy prices rising by an average £693 a year for millions of households.