The price of potatoes soared 177 per cent between August 2011 and August 2012, according to new figures released by the CSO.

The price of cereals rose by 30 per cent, while the price of eggs was up more than 11 per cent, according to the Agricultural Prices Index. The price of milk, however, decreased by 13.6 per cent.

On an annual basis, the agricultural input price index in August 2012 was 5.1 per cent higher than in August 2011. The agricultural output price index was up 4.3 per cent over the year to August 2012.

The Department of Agriculture said this year’s wet weather conditions and the consequent high incidence of blight, compounded by the inability to spray during wet weather, greatly affected potato yield which forced prices upwards. “Conversely, prices were relatively low last year due to a bumper crop,” a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations said global food prices rose 7.7 per cent in the past three months as drought and heat waves wilted US and European wheat, corn and soybeans.

Additional reporting: Reuters