IFA: CSO inflation update must be put in context
IFA president Francie Gorman said rising food prices reflect higher production costs and urged Government action
Print14 October 2025
Reacting to the recent CSO update showing food inflation ahead of general inflation, IFA president Francie Gorman said the debate around the cost of food needs informed context, particularly about the cost of doing business.
“This week’s Budget again failed to recognise that those in business are really struggling with higher costs across a range of areas, including higher wages and the carbon tax.
“Government has to do more to address the cost of production, including their own role in it,” he said.
Food price analysis
The IFA published a food price analysis paper last month setting out the context and background to recent food price increases.
Consumers in Ireland had little or no food inflation for over 20 years up to 2024.
“In fact, food prices actually were lower in 2021 than they were in 2001, 20 years previously.
“This was simply unsustainable, and it saw hundreds of producers, particularly in the vegetable and horticulture sectors, go out of business”, the IFA president continued.
Since then, there have been adjustments based on a range of factors, including the significant disruption to the supply chain caused by the war in Ukraine.
The IFA president said the last 12 months has seen a correction because prior to that the price of food lagged way behind general inflation.
“Everybody recognises that food costs more than it did in 2024, but the costs borne by producers have also increased.
“For far too long, the depressed price of food gave a very false impression of what is required to produce food to the highest standards,” he said.
“The policy direction from the EU and the previous Irish Government has been towards more regulation and less production.
“This has the inevitable consequence of higher prices.
“Proposals on the table at the moment don’t suggest any change in that approach, so the likelihood is that prices will remain at current levels or continue to increase,” he concluded.
Read more: IFA slams Dairygold’s milk price cut
© 2025, ShelfLife by Ryan Brennan
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