Summary
The Food Statistics Pocketbook is an annual statistical compendium produced by DEFRA, drawing together key data from across the UK food system, including agricultural production, food and drink manufacturing, retail and catering sectors, trade, and household consumption. It serves as a reference document for policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders seeking headline indicators of the performance and structure of the UK food economy. As a government statistical publication rather than a peer-reviewed study, its findings are descriptive and administrative rather than analytical or experimental.
UK applicability
This publication is wholly UK-focused and represents one of the principal official data sources for understanding the structure, scale, and trends of the UK food system. It is directly applicable to UK policy development, food security analysis, and supply chain research.
Key measures
Food self-sufficiency ratios (%); household food expenditure (£); food and drink trade volumes and values (£ billion); consumer price indices; food poverty and affordability indicators; food chain gross value added (£ billion)
Outcomes reported
The publication reports aggregate statistics on UK food and drink supply chains, household food expenditure, consumption patterns, food security indicators, trade balances, and agricultural output. It provides an annual snapshot of the UK food system from farm to fork.
Topic tags
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