The Australian consumer watchdog has begun an investigation into Australia’s rapid rise in shipping and container costs, which is beginning to cause price hikes in the retail sector. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chairman Rod Sims told The Australian that the investigation would focus on the price and movement of containers. “We are aware of what’s going on with containers, and we are investigating it,” Sims said. “There is a limited amount I can say on it, but we are looking at the freight system—particularly the role that containers play, I can certainly say that, and that is certainly on the list of investigations.” The skyrocketing cost of shipping has put pressure onto Australian importers by cutting into profit margins and forcing retailers, such as Breville, to begin passing on shipping costs to consumers, creating inflationary pressures. The shortage of containers has been blamed on the supply chain …