專家警告：今年耶誕節食品價格可能上漲

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.