The average price of a pint of stout rose last month but the average price of a pint of milk fell, according to new national figures.

The average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was €6.33 - up 26 cents in the year to October, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) today (Wednesday, November 11).

But the national average price of two litres of full fat milk was down four cents in the year to €2.39 - which means people paid less for a pint of milk in October than they did 12 months ago.

The latest CSO report also shows that the average price of Irish cheddar per kilogram fell by 28 cents and the price of butter per pound fell by 57 cents over the same timeframe.

In contrast petrol prices increased by 28 cents to €2.02 a litre last month compared to prices in October 2025 and the national average price for a litre of diesel in October 2026 was €2.19 - an increase of 48 cents on the same time last year. 

Cost of living

The latest Consumer Price Index for October, published today by the CSO, underlines that cost-of-living pressures in Ireland are continuing to increase.

Inflation hit its highest rate - 4.3% in October - in nearly three years.

According to Anthony Dawson, statistician in the CSO Prices Division, the most significant increases in the 12 months to October 2026 were seen in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (+10.7%) and transport (+9.0%).

"The rise in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels was due to higher prices for home heating oil, electricity and gas as well as increased costs for rents and mortgage interest repayments.

"Higher prices for transport were driven by increased costs for petrol and diesel, as well as higher prices for airfares," Dawson added.