BRC: Cost of non-food shopping rises for the first time in 15 months By This Is Money Food costs have been rising for some months - and now non-food goods have joined the ascent for the first time in over a year. While food inflation remained at a steadily high rate of 3.5 per cent, health and beauty products, gardening tools and stationery experienced a rise of 0.2 per cent last month, in comparison with a 0.4 per cent fall in February, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). All shop prices last month rose at their fastest pace since December, with inflation increasing from 1.1 per cent in February to 1.4 per cent in March. Shop prices rose last month at their fastest pace since December According to the BRC the rise in non-food prices was the first in 15 months due to strengthening demand and fewer promotions. It also affected the cost of books and DIY products. Helen Dickinson, director general at the BRC said the figures reflect 'that many retailers went into the new year with less stock to clear so discounting is less extensive compared with 2012.' She also said that next month will be the 'one to watch' as analysts look to see whether the unseasonable wet and cold weather in March will contribute to deeper discounting on Spring/Summer lines. As for food, rates have lingered at the same level due to the offsetting of high inflation in fruit, fish and meat with the slowdown of tinned and packet goods. Mike Watkins, head of retailer and business insight at Nielsen, said: 'As discretionary spend for the next few months is expected to remain flat at best, what upward pressure there is on prices is not coming from the consumer at the moment.'