Overview
- On the 22 October broadcast, presenters Sally Nugent and Ben Thompson highlighted projections of festive supply pressures based on recent climate data.
- Items flagged as at risk include beer and Christmas staples such as potatoes, parsnips and sprouts.
- A BusinessWaste study using Met Office records cites a spring with about 40% less rainfall and the hottest summer since 1884 as drivers of reduced yields.
- Analysts expect below-normal output for grains like wheat, barley and oats, along with weaker field-vegetable production and reduced livestock feed, which could lift prices.
- Thompson cautioned viewers not to stockpile, saying supplies should still be available though potentially pricier, and there are no confirmed nationwide shortages at this stage.