Consumer food prices gone down in last month while energy prices up 4.3%
Food prices are estimated to have gone down by 0.2% in the last month, new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show.
Food prices are gone up by 0.1% in the last 12 months to August 2026.
The EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for Ireland is estimated to have risen by 3.4% in the 12 months to August 2026 and increased by 0.6% since July 2026.
This compares with HICP inflation of 3.1% in Ireland in the 12 months to July 2026 and an annual increase of 2.9% in the HICP for the Eurozone in the same period.
Food prices
Anthony Dawson, statistician in the CSO prices division, said: “Looking at the components of the flash HICP in Ireland for August 2026, energy prices are estimated to have increased by 4.3% in the month and risen by 11.8% since August 2025.
"The HICP excluding energy and unprocessed food prices, is estimated to have increased by 2.6% since August 2025.
"Food prices are estimated to have gone down by 0.2% in the last month and gone up by 0.1% in the last 12 months.
"Service prices remain unchanged in the month and have risen by 3.7% in the 12 months to August 2026."
Consumers
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the official measure of inflation for Ireland and is published monthly by the CSO.
The CPI release for August 2026 will be published on September 10, 2026, and the final results of the HICP for Ireland for August 2026 will be published as part of the CPI release.
The HICP is an index of consumer prices that has been harmonised to allow comparisons across Eurozone countries.
The CSO compile the HICP flash estimates and final results for Ireland and submit those to Eurostat which then compiles the Eurozone estimate and publish that along with the results for the countries within the Eurozone.
Household staples
Figures published earlier this month show that average prices decreased for butter, milk and steak in July 2026.
The national average price for 2L of full fat milk was down 9c in the year to July, while a pound of butter fell by 55c and the average price of Irish cheddar decreased by 9c/kg.
The national average price of 1kg of sirloin steak fell by 5c in the year, while the average price for 2.5kg of potatoes was down by 9c.
Meanwhile, producer prices for food increased by almost 3% since July 2025.
According to the Wholesale Price Index, producer prices for food products increased by 2.7% in the 12 months to July 2026, the CSO said.
