Pandemic panic buying may have driven up prices of essential items at the supermarket permanently.
A Deakin University study of 7,000 grocery items found some items that were stripped from the shelves before lockdowns still cost much more than in 2019.
The cost of panic buying favourites such as dried pasta is up 15 per cent, and long-life milk costs three per cent more.





Dried pasta was one of the products stripped from shelves during the pandemic and its price has remained 15 per cent higher than before the pandemic

The cherry harvest, which is due to start in two weeks, is in peril with a major labor shortage that is expected to drive up prices.
Recent rains have also meant some of the cherry crop won't be ready in time. 
'Prices should reach consumers between $10-$20/kg but recent weather could see more lower grade fruit on the shelves, pushing prices for the better quality fruit above the $20/kg mark,' Mr Hickey said.  





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Fresh fruit costs more than before the pandemic and this Christmas's cherry harvest is expected to produce much more expensive fruit

A social media poll also found almost all consume[url=]PANDEMIC PRICE RISE: Costly impact of COVID-19 being felt at supermarket checkouts across the country | 7NEWS