As a man who is not unaccustomed to doing the weekly grocery shop (a standing ovation? Oh, go on then), there are certain products where you notice rising prices more than others.

Take meat. A family-size packet of mince or chicken breast fillets used to be around €6, now it’s routinely a tenner.

Pringles. I seem to recall they were 99c each for an age - nowadays, in my local supermarket, you might find them on offer at €1.74, or on full price at well over €3, with a special offer of two for €4. A stinging increase all the same.

Potatoes. The price of €4 a bag has stuck in my head, but now they cost €6-7, if not more.

The last few years have seen hefty rises in the cost of living across the board, of course, down to a range of factors.

But there are certain items whose prices, for some reason, have never registered with me. Milk, for instance, and bread. I’m sure they have gone up in price in recent years too, but I couldn’t tell you by how much. I guess that’s because the rises have been moderate, and they remain relatively cheap, and a necessary part of any shop.

Chocolate used to be another relatively cheap and necessary (trust me on this) part of the weekly shop, but this is one area where I nowadays feel like I am being stung on a weekly basis.

Chocolate in Irish supermarkets is no longer relatively cheap, and for that reason, I no longer deem it a necessary part of my shop. As a result, my life is a teensy bit poorer.

Sure, I look out for bargains and special offers in the goodies aisle, but if even they don’t tempt me, I move on to the next aisle. I ain’t paying that, I fume.

And I’m not alone. Of all the goods that have gotten more expensive in recent years, chocolate seems to be the one that sticks........

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