Sherlock: Food prices to drive inflation in 2008

FOOD, rather than mortgage interest rates and energy prices, will drive inflation in Ireland next year, it was predicted yesterday.

Labour Party spokesman on agriculture Seán Sherlock TD issued the warning when urging the Government to adopt a multi-agency approach to tackling food price inflation.

He said the cost of food commodities on global markets continues to climb, and will inevitably lead to an increase in the cost of weekly shopping baskets.