专家警告：今年圣诞食品价格可能上涨
Families may face bigger grocery bills this Christmas, according to a warning from supply chain experts in the United Kingdom.
The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, which represents people who buy goods for businesses, surveyed its members about the months ahead. Almost a quarter said they expected food and drink prices to rise by 10% or more over the next three months. More than a third predicted higher shipping costs.
Several problems are coming together at once. The price of fuel, especially diesel, has been swinging up and down, which affects the cost of farming, manufacturing and transport. Some important global trade routes have been disrupted, and unrest in the Middle East has pushed up the price of plastic packaging. Bad weather and a shortage of fertiliser are also affecting harvests, and experts expect the weather pattern known as El Niño to hit rice crops.
Vegetables, rice and everyday household items are among the products most at risk. The pressure is expected to build through the festive season and into the new year.
The report warned that businesses will face hard decisions about whether to raise prices or accept lower profits. For shoppers, that could mean fewer choices on the shelves and higher bills at the checkout.
英国供应链专家发出警告：今年圣诞节，家庭的买菜开销可能会更大。
英国皇家采购与供应学会代表的是为企业采购商品的从业人员。学会就未来几个月的情况调查了会员。将近四分之一的人预计，未来三个月食品和饮料价格将上涨 10% 或更多；超过三分之一的人预计运费会上涨。
好几个问题凑到了一起。燃油价格，尤其是柴油价格，一直忽高忽低，影响到农业、制造和运输的成本。一些重要的国际贸易航线受到干扰，中东局势动荡也推高了塑料包装的价格。恶劣天气和化肥短缺影响了收成，专家还预计，厄尔尼诺现象会冲击大米的产量。
蔬菜、大米和日常家居用品是最容易受影响的商品。预计这股压力会在节日期间不断累积，一直延续到新年。
报告警告，企业将面临艰难的选择：是涨价，还是接受更低的利润。对消费者来说，这可能意味着货架上的选择变少，结账时的账单变高。