New figures from the Central Statistics Office shows that annual consumer price inflation rose to a 21-month high of 3.2% in November from 2.9% in October.
This is the highest annual rate of inflation since February 2024 when the rate was 3.4%.
The CSO said the biggest increases in the 12 months to November were seen in the Education sector, with prices there up 8.9% due to an increase in third-level education costs.
Clothing & Footwear prices also increased by 4.4% on an annual basis in November, while the price of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages rose by 4.3% and prices in Restaurants & Hotels were up 3.6%.
Today's figures show that the price of beef and veal soared by 23.9% in November, while butter prices jumped over 10%, chocolate prices were up 11.5% and coffee prices increased by 12.4%.
The CSO said that on a monthly basis, the divisions seeing the biggest increases were Clothing & Footwear, with prices up 1.2%, while Miscellaneous Goods & Services rose by 0.5% on the back of a rise in the cost of jewellery, clocks and watches and higher health insurance premiums.
The CSO today also published its National Average Prices for selected goods and services for November which showed that the national average price for a large white sliced pan increased by nine cents, while the same size brown sliced pan increased by a cent in the year to November.
Spaghetti per 500g also rose by a cent in the year, while the average price for 2.5kg of potatoes was down 22 cents.
The CSO said the national average price of full fat milk per 2 litres was up 11 cents in the year, while butter per pound rose by 55 cents and the average price of Irish cheddar per kg increased by 62 cents.
Meanwhile, the national average price of a take-home 50cl can of lager at €2.39 was down three cents from November 2024, while a take-home 50cl can of cider at €2.71 was up three cents.
And the national average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was €6.08, up 26 cents in the year, while a pint of lager was €6.51, up 25 cents compared with November 2024.
