Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has privately proposed voluntary price freezes on food in supermarkets, as the UK government seeks to ease cost of living pressures for struggling Britons.
Politics Customers browse at a supermarket in London.
Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg Contact us: Provide news feedback or report an error Confidential tip?
Send a tip to our reporters Site feedback: Take our Survey New Window By Joe Mayes May 19, 2026 at 7:30 PM UTC Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has privately proposed voluntary price freezes on food in supermarkets, as the UK government seeks to ease cost of living pressures for struggling Britons.
The Treasury has been engaging with supermarkets on the idea, who would have the prospect of receiving help on reducing regulatory burdens in return, according to people familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity. Nothing has been agreed and the price freezes wouldn’t be imposed, the people said.
