Food inflation forecast to reach over 9%: comment

 "Forecasts that food inflation will approach double digits is deeply concerning. The war in the Middle East underlines just how quickly our dependence on fossil fuels can cost us. Petrol prices have risen sharply, and businesses are already reporting higher costs for energy, transport, fertiliser and other inputs. While oil and gas companies’ profits will likely rise, families will foot the bill through higher shopping and energy bills.

“When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a fossil fuel crisis, it helped drive a sharp rise in food prices. Across 2022 and 2023, households ended up paying around £600 more for food [2], with climate impacts on food production also adding to those costs. With wages still not having caught up, food remains less affordable for many families than it was before

“With scientists warning that El Niño could return sooner than expected [3] and intensify the extreme heat that climate change is already driving around the world, food production is in jeopardy. 2026 is shaping up to be another year in which conflict and climate risks become a costly reality."