Food prices in Ireland have been ranked the second-highest in the Eurozone in 2021, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The CSO report has revealed that In 2021, food prices in Ireland were 17% above the EU27 average, making them the second most expensive in the Eurozone, and the third most expensive in the EU27.
Irish prices for Milk, Cheese & Eggs were 25% higher than the EU27 average; while Oils & Fats were 22% higher, and Breads & Cereals were 20% higher.
These results are taken from the report on Price Levels of Food, Beverages, and Tobacco 2021: How Ireland Compares.
Ireland and Malta were jointly the second most expensive countries in the EU27 for Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
For Alcoholic Beverages, Ireland was the second most expensive country in both the Eurozone and EU27 with prices of alcohol in Ireland just over double the EU27 average in 2021.
For Tobacco, Ireland was the most expensive of the 36 countries surveyed in 2021, with prices 145% higher than the EU27 average.
This report provides greater insight into price level comparisons for Ireland in 2021 with other European countries and the EU27 in particular.
The CSO report is based on statistics published by Eurostat for 36 European countries.
Edel Flannery, the senior statistician in the CSO’s prices division, said: “Looking at specific food categories, we can see that prices for the various types of foods in Ireland were all higher than the EU27 average in 2021, except for fish, which was 3% lower.
She said that of the 36 countries surveyed, food was most expensive in Switzerland at 69% above the EU27 average, and least expensive in Turkey at 37% below the EU27 average.