Consumers hit by 50% price hikes for basic foodstuffs

CONSUMERS had to swallow rises of up to 50% in the price of basic foodstuffs last year.

Research conducted by the Irish Examiner found essentials such as milk, bread, flour, eggs, cheese, butter and fresh meat all shot up in price during 2007, adding hundreds of euro a year to shopping bills.

Inflation during 2007 was officially 4.9% yet our research shows 25 basic foods bought by consumers every week all rose between 5% and 52% during the same period.