Ireland’s inflation rate held broadly steady at 2.7% in the year to January, easing slightly from the previous month, according to the latest Consumer Price Index figures from the Central Statistics Office.
While the overall rate of price growth has stabilised, several everyday essentials continue to rise faster than the headline figure.
Education services recorded the sharpest annual increase, up 8.9%, reflecting higher third-level costs introduced from October 2025. Clothing and footwear also climbed by 7.3%.
Grocery bills remain under pressure. Food and non-alcoholic drinks rose 3.9% over the past year. Beef prices surged by 23.7%, poultry increased by 8%, eggs by 5.7%, butter by 4.5%, chocolate by 9.3% and coffee by 8.4%. Sirloin steak rose €4.68 per kilogram, while Irish cheddar and milk also posted noticeable increases.
Housing-related costs continue to add strain. Rents rose 3.3% and mortgage interest repayments increased by 4.2%. Electricity prices were up 4.7%, although home heating oil fell 7.9%.
Insurance remains a major driver of rising costs. Health insurance premiums jumped 8.7% on average, while travel insurance rose 4.7%.
The national average price of a pint of stout stood at €6.10 in January, with further increases expected in the coming months.