New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that annual inflation increased to 1.9 per cent in January, up from 1.4 per cent in December.
Excluding energy and unprocessed food, the consumer price index rose by 2.5 per cent over the past year.
The biggest price hikes were seen in restaurants and hotels, as well as transport, both up 3.9 per cent in the 12 months to January. In contrast, clothing and footwear prices dropped by 6.5 per cent, while furnishings and household equipment declined by 0.8 per cent.
On a monthly basis, clothing and footwear saw the sharpest decrease, falling 8.6 per cent due to seasonal sales, while recreation and culture costs dropped by 4.3 per cent.