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Ireland’s annual inflation is estimated to have climbed to 3.4% in August, the Central Statistics Office says, as energy prices pushed higher. The CSO’s flash Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices shows a clear month-on-month rise in household energy costs even as food prices eased slightly.
Headline numbers
The CSO’s preliminary HICP estimate puts overall consumer price inflation at 3.4% for the 12 months to August. The statistics office reports that energy costs rose sharply between July and August, while food moved in the opposite direction.
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Key movements in August (CSO flash estimate):
- Energy: up an estimated 4.3% from July and 11.8% compared with August last year.
- Food: down 0.2% month-on-month, but 0.1% higher than in the same month a year earlier.
Drivers and implications
The month-to-month jump in energy prices was the main factor behind the rise in the annual inflation figure. That increase will be felt directly by households through higher bills and will also affect the wider cost of living picture.
Global context and what comes next
The CSO notes the figures come amid ongoing volatility in global energy markets. Tensions linked to the US‑Iran situation have been cited as one pressure on oil prices, contributing to the recent upward movement in energy costs.
These numbers are a flash estimate. The CSO will publish the final, detailed inflation figures for August in September.
