LONDON, (Reuters) – While the prices of Britain’s cheapest pastas and breads have risen in the last year, overall food prices and staples at lower costs have risen at a comparable pace to the average price, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Many anti-poverty activists have pointed out sharp price increases within the most basic food staples. In addition, surveys show that Britons are increasingly skipping meals because of high inflation.

Yesterday, the British government gave grants in excess of 22 billion pounds for support to families to cover their rising energy costs.

A 500-gram pack of spaghetti in a British supermarket cost 53 pence ($0.67) last month. That’s a 50 percent increase over the previous year, when it was 36 pence. Meanwhile, the 800-gram bread price rose to 54 pence.

Cash terms the largest increase in minced beef cost was 500g, up 32pence to 2.34lb, an 16% increase.

The ONS reported that the average price of the most affordable brands of food or drink in 30 categories increased by 6-7 percent. This is the same increase as the overall food and beverage prices.

According to the ONS, there is a wide range of prices among the 30 items. Prices for six items have fallen over the last year and five increased by at least 15%.

Prices for potatoes dropped 14% and cheese fell 7%. Pizzas were also cheaper than last year, at 4%.

According to the ONS, the analysis was “highly experimental”, and the findings were sensitive to specific goods.

Andrew Bailey, Bank of England Governor, warned this month about the potential for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to have further “apocalyptic,” and especially devastating consequences for food prices for those in developing countries.

Russia and Ukraine are the largest exporters of vegetable oil, grain and other food products.

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