Irish households are facing a significant rise in the cost of everyday food and drink items, with new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealing that food inflation has more than doubled the general rate of price increases over the past year.
According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) for June, food prices rose by 4.6% in the 12 months to June 2025 — more than twice the overall inflation rate of 1.8% across the wider economy.
Dairy products have seen some of the steepest price hikes. The cost of a pound (454g) of butter has soared by 28%, rising by €1.10 to an average of €4.83. Two litres of milk are now priced at €2.47 — an increase of 27 cent — while a kilo of cheese has climbed by 95 cent to €11.34.
Bread prices have also crept up, with an 800g white sliced pan loaf now costing €1.67, up by 6 cent compared to the same time last year.
Meat prices have followed a similar trend. A kilo of roast beef has jumped by 20% to €15.20, while a leg of lamb per kilo is nearly 19% more expensive than last June, now averaging €17.70.
In the drinks sector, the price of a pint of stout has also increased, rising 4.6% to an average of €6.07.
Not all food categories have seen rising prices. The cost of a 2.5kg bag of potatoes has fallen by 29 cent to €3.81, and overall, fruit and vegetable prices have remained largely stable over the past 12 months.
Outside of food and drink, fuel prices have eased. The average price of a litre of diesel has dropped from €1.71 to €1.65, while petrol prices have fallen by 9 cent, now standing at €1.69 per litre.
The figures come amid ongoing concern about the cost-of-living pressures facing consumers, particularly lower-income households, who tend to spend a higher proportion of their income on essential food and fuel.
While the headline inflation rate may be slowing, the CSO data indicates that price pressures remain persistent in key categories — particularly food — highlighting continued challenges for consumers trying to manage household budgets.
