Annual inflation dips to 3.6% in May from 3.7%
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the rate of inflation fell to 3.6% in May from a two-year high of 3.7% in April.
The CSO said the most significant annual price increases last month were recorded in education services, which rose by 8.9%, and clothing and footwear, which increased by 7.4%.
The price of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 7.1% on the back of rises in the cost of home heating oil, electricity, rents and mortgage interest repayments.
Meanwhile, transport costs rose 6.1% last month due to higher prices for diesel and petrol as well as increases in the cost of air fares.
The only sector to see a fall when compared with May of last year was furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, with prices dipping by 0.6%.
The CSO also today published its National Average Prices for selected goods and services for the month of May.
The CSO noted price increases for sirloin steak per kg, which rose by €1.01, while Irish cheddar per kg was up eight cent.
But there were decreases in the price of a pound of butter, down by 44 cent, while a 2.5kg bag of potatoes eased by 10 cent, two litres of full fat milk was down eight cent and an 800g loaf of brown sliced pan dipped two cent lower.
The CSO also said that the national average price for a litre of diesel in May 2026 was €1.99, an increase of 33 cent on the same time last year. Petrol prices rose by 17 cent to €1.87 a litre, it added.
