CSO: Food prices up 2.3% in last 12 months
Food prices are estimated to have risen by 2.3% in the last 12 months, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
However, food prices have decreased by 0.3% in the last month.
The EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for Ireland published by the CSO today (Monday, March 30) is estimated to have risen by 3.6% in the 12 months to March 2026.
It increased by 1.8% since February 2026.
This compares with HICP inflation of 2.5% in Ireland in the 12 months to February 2026 and an annual increase of 1.9% in the HICP for the Eurozone in the same period.
Looking at the components of the flash HICP for Ireland in March 2026, energy prices are estimated to have climbed by 11.1% in the month and were up by 12.3% over the 12 months to March 2026.
Middle East
Commenting on the data published today, Anthony Dawson, statistician in the prices division of the CSO, said these increases in energy prices "may have been influenced by recent events in the Middle East".
"These prices were collected in mid-March and before the government measures on energy costs were introduced," Dawson added.
He added that the HICP excluding energy and unprocessed food prices, is estimated to have gone up by 2.6% since March 2025.
| HICP special aggregate | Monthly % change | Annual % change |
|---|---|---|
| HICP excluding energy and unprocessed food | 0.9 | 2.6 |
| Energy | 11.1 | 12.3 |
| Services | 0.9 | 3.3 |
| Non-energy industrial goods | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Food excluding alcohol and tobacco | -0.3 | 2.3 |
| Unprocessed food | -0.1 | 4.5 |
| Processed food | -0.3 | 1.5 |
| Food including alcohol and tobacco | -0.2 | 2.2 |
| HICP excluding energy | 0.8 | 2.7 |
| HICP excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco | 1.0 | 2.7 |
| All items HICP | 1.8 | 3.6 |
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the official measure of inflation for Ireland and is published monthly by the CSO.
The CPI release for March 2026 will be published on April 9, 2026 and the final results of the HICP for Ireland for March 2026 will be published as part of the CPI release.
The HICP is an index of consumer prices that has been harmonised to allow comparisons across Eurozone countries.
The CSO compiles the HICP flash estimates and final results for Ireland and submits those to Eurostat who then compile the Eurozone estimate and publish that along with the results for the countries within the Eurozone.
While the final HICP results for the Eurozone are usually published by Eurostat around the middle of the month following the reference month, flash estimates are issued around the end of each reference month.
