National average prices for potatoes and butter have increased last month, according to latest figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Prices for a 2.5kg bag of potatoes rose by 59c to €4.06 in August 2024, compared to last year. Consumers also paid 17c more for 454g of butter, with average prices of €3.94.
Meanwhile, national average prices for Irish cheddar were 11c lower last month at €10.50 than during the same month in 2023. There was no change in the price of 2L full-fat milk at €2.19.
Prices for 800g white sliced plan increased by 4c last month to a national average of €1.61. The price of a sirloin steak per kg rose by 72c to €17.25, while prices for cooked ham per kg fell by 43c to €20.33.
Consumers also paid more for pork sausages, large eggs per half dozen and mushrooms per kg last month, but less for a fresh fillet of cod, best back rashers, and uncooked chicken.
Fuel excise duty
Latest figures published by the CSO also show that excise clearances of green diesel – also known as marked gas oil – at 109 million litres, were 24% higher in July 2024 than in July 2023 at 88 million litres.
This was the highest figure for July green diesel clearances since 2007, according to the CSO’s Fuel Excise Clearances July 2024.
Excise clearances of autodiesel were 6% higher in July this year at 315 million litres, while excise clearances of unleaded petrol in July 2024, at 97 million litres, were 13% higher than in July 2023.
Comparing the January-July period in 2023 and 2024, excise clearances for unleaded petrol increased by 6.5%; kerosene was up by 5.9%; green diesel rose by 3.2%; while autodiesel was down by 0.5%.
Fuel excise clearances reflect the duty paid on fuel products when they arrive into the country, as opposed to when they are sold at the forecourt.
Last month, the second reinstatement of excise duty came into effect which saw an extra 4c added to the petrol price, while diesel increased by 3c/L and 1.5c/L was added to the price of green diesel.