Ireland Harmonised Inflation Rate Inches Higher to 3.4%

The EU-standard harmonised inflation rate (HICP) in Ireland rose to 3.9% year-on-year in September 2026, accelerating from 3.4% in the previous month, according to preliminary estimates. This marked the highest reading since September 2023, mainly driven by strong gains in energy prices, which jumped 15.3% after an 11.8% advance in August. Moreover, services inflation increased to 4.1% from 3.7%, while food prices rose slightly to 0.3% from 0.1%. Meanwhile, inflation in non-energy industrial goods eased to 0.9% from 1.3% a month earlier. Excluding energy and unprocessed food, harmonised inflation rose to 2.8% from 2.6%. On a monthly basis, harmonised consumer prices increased by 0.2%, following a 0.6% rise in the preceding period.

The EU-standard harmonised inflation rate (HICP) in Ireland quickened to 3.4% year-on-year in August 2026 from a five-month low of 3.1% in July, according to preliminary estimates. The main upward pressure came from energy prices, which surged by 11.8%, after a 6.5% advance in the previous month. Meanwhile, services inflation remained steady at 3.7%, while food price growth slowed significantly to 0.1% from 0.8%. Excluding energy and unprocessed food, harmonised inflation moderated to 2.6%, down from 2.9% in the previous month. On a monthly basis, harmonised consumer prices rose by 0.6% in August, the most in five months, up from a 0.1% in the month before, propelled by energy costs (+4.3%).

The EU-standard Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices in Ireland rose 3.1% year-on-year in July 2026, easing from a 3.2% increase in the previous month and marking the lowest reading since February, according to preliminary estimates. The slowdown was driven by softer energy inflation, which decelerated to 6.5% from 10.0% in June. Meanwhile, the HICP excluding energy and unprocessed food accelerated to 2.9% from 2.5%, food price inflation edged up to 0.8% from 0.5%, and services inflation ticked higher to 3.7% from 3.6%. On a monthly basis, harmonised consumer prices were unchanged in July, following a 0.1% increase in the previous month.