5 Foods Shoppers Can Expect To Skyrocket, According to Experts
Written by
Heather Altamirano
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Your grocery bill might be higher the next time you shop. According to supply chain expert Oisin Hanrahan, CEO and founder of Keychain, rising fuel costs due to the Iran conflict are beginning to put pressure on food production and transportation.
Shoppers likely won’t see an immediate impact, however. Hanrahan said many retailers have current inventory that was shipped before the war began. But as supplies run out and shelves need to be restocked, the increased costs typically begin to appear on grocery store shelves roughly 60 to 90 days later. Many Americans are already living on tight budgets and even a modest price increase can cause a financial strain.
According to Hanrahan, these five foods are especially vulnerable to rising fuel and shipping costs.
Packaged Snacks
Favorite snacks like chips, cookies and crackers have “complicated supply chains,” which will raise prices.
“Ingredients come from multiple sources, there are several manufacturing steps and then there’s distribution,” Hanrahan said. “Every stage gets hit by higher fuel costs, which means these products feel the impact harder than simpler items.”
Olive Oil
Olive oil costs surged by 78% in 2022 through 2024 because of the severe drought in Mediterranean countries, according to UkrAgroConsult. Through trade, this increase in the European Union impacted the price of olive oil in the U.S. Prices were starting to decline in 2025, but with the current conflict affecting shipping routes, Hanrahan said prices will increase.
“The product category has already seen a decrease in growth year-over-year according to the Keychain platform and rising fuel costs will only make things worse,” Hanrahan explained.
Pistachios
Iran is one of the world’s largest producers of pistachios. Hanrahan said the popular nut could soon become more expensive.
“If exports from the region slow down or shipping costs keep rising, prices for this nut — already pretty expensive at an average retail price of $7.74 according to Keychain’s platform — are going to jump,” he explained.
Dates
The Middle East, especially Iran and its neighbors, supplies a significant share of the world’s dates, which are also expected to rise in price, per Fortune Business Insights.
“Between potential export disruptions and fuel costs making it more expensive to ship them halfway across the world, consumers should expect to pay more,” Hanrahan said.
Imported Spices
The U.S. imports the majority of its spices, meaning global shipping costs can quickly affect what consumers pay at the store.
“The Middle East supplies tons of the spice sitting in your pantry right now,” Hanrahan said. “These are already expensive to transport, since many come via air freight, so when fuel costs spike, the price increase gets passed straight to consumers.”
Higher fuel costs will raise prices across many goods, including groceries. Watching sales, buying staples when prices dip and opting for generic brands can help save.
Editor’s note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on GOBankingRates.com.
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