The Prime Minister is reportedly locked in talks with supermarkets in a bid to steer them to restrict the price of essential food merchandise.

Rishi Sunak's aides are hoping to hammer out a deal just like one which exists in France the place main retailers promote sure fundamental meals objects for the "lowest possible amount", it has been reported.

Such efforts can be essentially the most vital try to control grocery store costs within the UK because the Price Commission was arrange by Edward Heath's Conservative authorities below 1973's Counter-Inflation Act.

But Downing Street reportedly insists that any strikes by retailers to set worth caps on meals like bread and milk can be voluntary.

The report comes amid rising concern amongst ministers in regards to the affect of inflation and the elevated value of borrowing on family budgets and the cost of living.

READ MORE: Exact time M&S, Tesco, Waitrose and other supermarkets slash prices in store

The Telegraph reviews {that a} proposed meals worth cap, just like the French mannequin, has been mooted inside Whitehall and amongst trade leaders over the past two weeks.

French retailers that agreed to the take care of the federal government picked out objects of their shops that might be topic to cost freezes or cuts.

Own-brand merchandise had been typically chosen on the idea that retailers discovered it best to regulate their prices.

But issues have reportedly been raised that the proposals can be "anti-market" and put smaller retailers at an obstacle as a result of they may lose enterprise to supermarkets promoting objects for much less.

A Downing Street supply reportedly claimed that the plans had been at a “drawing board” stage.

It mentioned that whereas it recognised supermarkets weren't working on large revenue margins, "the pressures are such that we are working with retailers on anything that can be done at their end to bring down prices for consumers".