New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the annual rate of inflation was unchanged at 2.7% in February from the previous month.
The CSO noted that as today's figures are for February, they do not capture the impact of the recent events in the Middle East which has pushed fuel prices and home heating oil prices sharply higher.
Today's CSO figures reveal the sectors seeing the biggest increases in the 12 months to February included Education Services, which jumped by 8.9%, while Insurance & Financial Services rose by 6%.
The only sectors to record a decline when compared with February last year were Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance, with prices dipping by 1.1%, while Transport costs slowed by 0.3%.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.9% between January and February, the CSO said.
The divisions with the largest rises in the month were Clothing & Footwear, with prices up 4.4%, while and Recreation, Sport & Culture costs moved 2.4% higher.
The only division to record a fall in the month was Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco, with prices easing by 0.5%.
Kate English, chief economist at Deloitte Ireland, said that while today's inflation figures are steady, next month's figures could be an entirely different ball game.
It all depends on how long this conflict in Iran lasts, she added.
"Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ireland's inflation spiked, as we grappled with an energy crisis and supply chain disruptions. However, this rise in inflation was not solely down to the invasion of Ukraine, the Covid-19 pandemic was a significant factor too," she noted.
"What is different this time is we're starting from a higher base for food inflation, which sat at 2% in January 2022, in contrast to today's 3.4%. With fertiliser prices rising due to the supply issues created by the Gulf conflict and gas prices increasing production costs of fertiliser, there is a very real risk for food price inflation if this is to persist," she cautioned.
"Next week the European Central Bank, the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England will meet for interest rate decisions. What I'll be focusing on is their language, which will be most revealing," the economist added.
The CSO also published its National Average Prices for selected goods and services for February today.
They show that the national average price for a large (800g) white sliced pan increased by three cents in the year to February 2026, while the same size brown sliced pan increased by a cent.
The national average price of 1kg of sirloin steak rose by €4.37 in the year, while the average price for 2.5kg of potatoes was down 20 cents.
The CSO also said the national average price of full fat milk per 2 litres was down two cents in the year, while butter per pound rose by three cents and the average price of Irish cheddar per kg increased by 30 cents.
Meanwhile, the national average price of a take-home 50cl can of lager at €2.41 was down a cent from February 2025, while a take-home 50cl can of cider at €2.71 was up two cents.
The national average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was €6.18, up 25 cents in the year, while a pint of lager was €6.58, up 26 cents compared with February 2025, the CSO added/
