JACK COST NIPPING AT YOUR NOTES

Inflation to hit Christmas shoppers hard in pocket

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN Political Correspondent

SHOPPERS face a Christmas cost-of-living crunch as new figures show inflation biting on everything from food and energy to the price of the pint.

Costs have risen by 3.2 percent over the past year - the highest annual rate since February 2024.

The Government has been slammed by the opposition for cutting cost-of-living support in Budget 2026, when inflation projections for the end of this year were over one percent lower than figures released yesterday.

Education, clothing and food prices are all contributing to the annual increase.

As families pack the trolleys for Christmas food and nonalcoholic beverages are up 4.3 percent.