The annual rate of inflation increased to 1.7% in May from 1.4% in April, according to the latest consumer price index from the Central Statistics Office.
Higher prices for restaurants and hotels, as well as for petrol and food, were mainly responsible the increase.
However, the CSO figures show that inflation so far this year is running at less one third of the level recorded during the first five months of last year.
The latest CPI shows that the cost of utilities and local charges, as well as the cost of energy products, has risen by almost 7% each over the past 12 months. This is four times the rate of inflation for the rest of the economy.
Water, waste and other local charges stand out. They are up 25.3% on average, the highest rate of inflation of any category of goods or services listed in the consumer price index.
