Irish households are being forced to make difficult choices between essential needs as grocery prices surge at more than double the general inflation rate, new figures reveal.
The Central Statistics Office reported food and drink prices jumped 4.6% in the past year, far outpacing the overall cost of living increase of 1.8%. Basic staples have seen dramatic price hikes, with sirloin steak rising from €17.26 to €22.12 per kilo, while butter has increased by €1.10 to €4.83 per pound.
Other significant increases include roast beef climbing from €12.64 to €15.20 per kilo, milk up 27 cents to €2.47 for two litres, and Irish cheddar cheese rising 95 cents to €11.34 per kilo. These surges are adding thousands of euros to families’ annual grocery bills.
Stephen Moffatt from children’s charity Barnardos said families have exhausted reasonable savings measures and are now buying “cheaper and sometimes less nutritious food.” He noted that issuing food vouchers has become “the new norm” for the charity over the past two years.
The crisis particularly affects vulnerable groups, with Alone CEO Sean Moynihan warning that without cost-of-living supports, nearly half of older people living alone would face poverty risk. Survey responses reveal the stark reality, with one person stating: “Eat or heat has become reality.”
Dominic Lumsden from Peopl Insurance reported anecdotal evidence of pensioners abandoning groceries at supermarket checkouts due to unaffordable prices.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe acknowledged ongoing cost-of-living challenges but emphasized the need for balanced public spending amid economic uncertainty. Attention now turns to Budget 2026 and potential government measures to support struggling households.