Inflation set to rise rather than ease throughout the yearThe conflict in the Middle East is set to send the price of groceries up even more. Dr Emma Howard, an economist at TU Dublin, said higher energy costs would hit businesses that produce food and lead to higher transport costs. “These increased production and transport costs will feed through the supply chain, resulting in higher prices on the supermarket shelves,” she said. He added that the increase in food prices will probably last for quite some time. “From a position where it looked like Irish food price inflation was headed to 3pc or lower, it now looks like we will see food price inflation heading back towards 5pc,” Mr Hughes said.

Source: Irish Independent March 13, 2026 14:33 UTC