General food prices are up already this year, with fruit and vegetables leading the way.

In January alone food prices rose 1.3 percent, following a stable last few months.

Chicken, energy drinks and yoghurt prices were down, but that wasn't enough to counter spikes in fresh produce.

Fruit and vegetable prices were up almost ten percent last month, with apples at their highest level in recent years.

They averaged almost 5 dollars a kilo, with new season apples coming to the market later than usual and in lower quantities.

That's a result of poor spring weather.

Meat, fish and confectionery prices also rose.