Once again there is a big furore about the price of shopping going up by five per cent in two years.

Why didn’t your reporter look at the correct cause of these price increases? The increases have come about because of the increase in the price of fuel.

Every single item in the shop is delivered by articulated lorries or vans. Diesel is more expensive than petrol and the price of diesel has gone up 19 per cent per litre in the past two years! That’s 95p per gallon.

The UK has some of the highest taxes on diesel and petrol prices in the world. Add to that the ever increasing price of the road fund licence, which is now more costly than ever before and the price of tyres, etc, which have also gone up because of various taxes like petrol and then you will find that this taxation lark is a vicious circle with Joe Public footing the bill!

Why don’t you blame the real culprits for these price increases?

It is this present coalition Government and the previous Governments before them, not the retailers. But also don't forget, the companies who manufacture these goods are also entitled to wage increases as well as anyone else and these have to be passed on.

John J Monaghan Cotman Close Abingdon