Unless there is immediate action taken on price inflation and massive cost-of-living pressures, many families will struggle to cover even the basics this Christmas. And homes across the country may have to choose between light and heat.
That's the grim warning from the opposition parties as they call for urgent action on price regulation, on profiteering, price gouging and on inflation, amid predictions that many Christmas staples - from food to drink and clothing - could cost up to 20% more this December than 12 months ago.
Ireland remains the second most expensive country in the EU for goods and services, only just behind Denmark by Eurostat measures and for a wide range of services, from energy to car insurance and broadband - we are the most expensive, paying 50% about the EU average for the main 'basket' of goods and services.
Heating and electricy is also far more expensive - with a number of the biggest companies on their second price hike of the year. The opposition parties have now warned that Irish families are facing a 'grim winter' with price pressures on all sides as working people struggle to deal with rampant price inflation.
Sinn Féin's social protection spokesperson Louise O'Reilly has warned that it's set to be a "very grim winter" for a lot of people, especially after being let down by Budget 2026.
Grocery prices have risen at their fastest level since December 2023, with the rate of inflation at 6.5 per cent for the past 12 months, according to retail analysts Worldpanel by Numerator.
This is almost three times the headline rate of inflation. Analyst Emer Healy said a lack of one-off measures announced in the most recent budget puts more pressure on shoppers leading into the festive season.
She said: "The end of one-off payments such as the Energy Credit and double Child Benefit, along with rising fuel and other household costs, will put extra pressure on many families, especially as tax bands remain unchanged and some credits are no longer available."
Ms Healy said more shoppers are also relying on promotions to afford their weekly shop, with 10.2 per cent more being spent on promotions over the last 12 weeks compared to the same period last year.
While customers have seen a rise in prices across the board for food items, Economist Oliver Browne has warned that turkey prices could rise substantially, depending on the trajectory of the outbreak of avian flu.
He also noted that popular festive chocolates that have already hit the shelves are 20 per cent more expensive than last year- indicating that a lot of Christmas staples could weigh heavily on consumers' pockets.
Sinn Féin and Labour are calling on the Government to adopt the Excessive Prices Bill, which would force supermarket giants to publish their profits and bring transparency to pricing.
Ms O'Reilly said this transparency is extremely important, as the profits are not being reflected in the pockets of farmers or retail workers.
She said: "You talk to people working in retail and they'll tell you their pay increases, if they're getting any at all, are certainly not keeping pace with the rising cost of groceries.
"It's not the ordinary workers, and it's not the farmers who are benefiting from this. Somebody's making a lot of money here."
The Sinn Féin TD said Christmas should be a happy time, but most people will find themselves struggling immensely if festive staples are 20 per cent more expensive.
She said her constituents frequently approach her in the supermarket with their receipt, aghast at the price of their weekly shop.
She continued: "They're putting their stuff on the belt, essentials first, and then treats, biscuits, whatever at the end.
"And very often they have to leave them back. We're back in what feels like recession times for people. I feel a very, very grim winter for a lot of people."
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said it's "devastating news" that Christmas is set to be more expensive for people already struggling to keep up with their regular grocery shop and bills.
The TD raised the issue in the Dáil with Taoiseach Micheál Martin during Leaders' Questions on Tuesday, calling on him to alleviate the pressure of rising costs for working families.
She said: "It's not just the Christmas turkey that will come at a higher price this year. Rents are up 7 per cent, house prices are up the same, and over 300,000 households are now in arrears on their electricity bills.
"All of this is combining to push people to make impossible choices - between heating and eating, or skipping essentials just to keep a small buffer for emergencies."
On top of the Excessive Prices Bill, Labour is calling on the Government to direct the Agrifood Regulator to investigate rising grocery prices.