The national average price for two litres of full fat milk decreased by 10c to €2.18 in the year up to March 2024, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The Consumer Price Index March 2024, shows that the average price paid by consumers for a large (800g) white sliced pan of bread was down 3c to €1.65, while the same sized brown sliced pan reduced by the same amount.
The data published today (Thursday, April 11) shows that the consumer price of a pound of butter fell by 14c to €3.71/lb and the cost of Irish cheddar was down by 26c/kg to €10.46/kg.
However, Anthony Dawson, statistician in the CSO prices division, noted that “there were price increases in March 2024 for a 2.5kg bag of potatoes (+48c) and 500g of spaghetti (+3c)” when compared with the same month in the previous year.
The price of sirloin steak remained stable over the period at €16.53/kg in March 2024, while a leg of lamb increased from €14.37 to €14.76/kg in the year.
The national average price of a take-home 50cl can of lager at €2.37 was up 9c on average from March 2023 while a take-home 50cl can of cider at €2.69 was up 17c.
In March 2024, the national average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was €5.65, up 17c in the year, while a pint of lager was €6.07, up 15c compared with March 2023.
CSO
Commenting on overall annual changes, Anthony Dawson said that prices for consumer goods and services in March 2024 rose by 2.9% on average when compared with March 2023.
“This is the fifth time since September 2021 that the annual growth in the CPI was below 5%. It is also the fifth consecutive month where the inflation rate was lower than 5%,” he said.
The most significant rises in the 12 months to March 2024 were seen in recreation and culture (+8.3%) and restaurants and hotels (+5.5%).
Clothing and footwear (-6.6%) and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (-0.6%) were the only divisions to show a decrease when compared with March 2023.