The decision by the Competition Commission to probe price hikes across a basket of five fruits and six vegetables is understandable, given the level of food inflation over the past year. However, it is also a case of the trolley having already bolted and it is far from clear what impact the inquiry will have on the current cost-of-living crunch. A report on the findings of the investigation is scheduled for only September 2024, by which time conditions are likely to be materially different.