<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A fresh and devastating blow is heading for struggling households with the price of food expected to spike even further in coming weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Retailers are now having to pass on the massive costs they've been absorbing, in the weeks since the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="" title="Middle East "><span>Middle East</span></a><span> war began. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fresh everyday food staples are about to cost more as a result of the fuel crisis.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-4-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/d8326628-ad7f-4e35-b570-e1e468179734" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Iran grants safe passage through Strait of Hormuz to major country</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Independent supermarket Ritchies is among those sounding the alarm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meat, fruit and vegetables are all expected to cost 20 per cent more and in as little as three weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Farmers bosses say members are being hit.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/iran-us-israel-war-grocery-prices-fuel-rise/ec61521e-3af5-480e-bac4-5b20546d1913" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Particularly the ones that have further to travel like onions and lemons which are already incurring a $1 per kilometre additional transport levy for those trucks bringing that produce to the distribution centres to get to consumers at the supermarkets," Xavier Martin, NSW farmers president said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/daylight-savings-2026-when-does-it-end-australia-what-to-do-clocks-april-explainer/557ba184-b801-488a-8ded-d2e063cf3e21"><strong><span>Millions of Aussies will get an extra hour of sleep tomorrow</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The price of home brand milk is also expected to climb, with dairy farmers asking supermarkets to increase prices by 30 cents per litre as processors pay through the nose to combat high diesel and fertiliser shortages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As for everything else, retailers have been absorbing exploding transport costs but now need to pass that onto shoppers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some economists say a 20 per cent price hike for fresh food is just the beginning with even further increases anticipated unless the war in the Middle East ends.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/alcatraz-reopening-donald-trump-budget-proposal-usa-politics-news/528a2080-ee5d-4dda-9e4b-b39749bf17f7" rel="" target="" title=" Trump asks for $220 million to reopen Alcatraz"><strong><span>Trump asks for $220 million to reopen Alcatraz</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Even if it ended today where has been impacts on supply chains that will be with us for weeks and months ahead," Energy Minster Chris Bowen said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New data from the UN says global wheat prices have already risen by 4.3 per cent last month, with farmers planting less because of the challenges they are facing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>