Grocery prices: the next 6-8 months matter

Irish shoppers should brace for further grocery price increases over the coming months, according to ifac's Head of Public Sector Services and Economics, Karol Kissane, speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this week.

Cost shocks typically take six to eight months to filter through from farm to shelf, and with this summer's drought conditions now several months old, that window has already opened.

Karol pointed to fertiliser costs and drought impact as recurring concerns being raised across ifac's 30,000-strong client base, with price rises expected to continue right through to January 2027.

Adding to the pressure, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are pushing up costs further at farm level. The knock-on effects aren't confined to one part of the food chain either. Crop growth and oil supplies across Europe are all affected, meaning no sector is likely to be shielded from the impact.