New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that consumer price inflation rose to an 18-month high of 2.7% in September, up from 2% the previous month.
That marks the highest that inflation has been since March 2024 when the rate of inflation was 2.9%.
The CSO said the most significant increases in the 12 months to September were seen in the Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages sector, with prices jumping by 4.7%.
Price increases were seen across a wide range of products including meat, chocolate and confectionery, milk, cheese and eggs, breads and cereals and mineral waters and soft drinks.
The price of beef and veal soared by 23.6% in September compared to the same time last year, while milk prices jumped by 12.1% and butter rose by 11.7%.
Meanwhile the price of chocolate increased by 13.9%, while coffee prices were up 10.5%.
September also saw more expensive prices for health and motor insurance premiums, higher prices for personal care products and a rise in the cost of childcare services.
The CSO noted that the price of furnishings, household equipment & routine household maintenance was the only sector to show a decline when compared with September with a 0.6% fall.
The CSO today also published its National Average Prices for selected goods and services for September.
They show that the national average price for a large white sliced pan increased by five cents in the year to September, while the same size brown sliced pan increased by three cents in the year.
The national average price of full fat milk per 2 litres was up 27 cents in the year, while butter per pound rose by 68 cents and the average price of Irish cheddar per kg increased by 69 cents.
Meanwhile, the national average price of a take-home 50cl can of lager at €2.43 was up a cent from last year, while a take-home 50cl can of cider at €2.73 was up six cents.
The national average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was €6.07, up 25 cents in the year, while a pint of lager was €6.50, up 26 cents compared with September last year.
Spaghetti per 500g rose by two cents in the year, but the average price for 2.5kg of potatoes was down 42 cents, the CSO added.
