Prices for some food and drink items have increased significantly over the past year, with butter now costing €1.10 more on average than it did last year, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), reports Breaking News.
Food prices rose by 4.6 per cent since June of last year — more than twice the rate of the general Consumer Price Index (CPI), which went up by 1.8 per cent over the same time.
When excluding energy and unprocessed food, the CSO reports that the CPI increased by 2 per cent in the 12 months up to this June, reports Breaking News.
In that time, the national average price for two litres of full-fat milk increased by 27 cents. Butter went up by €1.10 per pound, while Irish cheddar cheese rose by 95 cents per kilogram.
The CPI report for June highlights that butter prices climbed by 28 per cent year-on-year, reaching €4.83 for a pound, reports Breaking News.
Dairy items have seen some of the steepest price hikes, with milk, cheese, and butter among the most affected.
The average price of a white sliced pan (800g) rose by six cents over the year, and a brown sliced pan of the same size went up by five cents, reports Breaking News.
Meanwhile, the cost of 500g of spaghetti stayed the same compared to last year, and a 2.5kg bag of potatoes dropped in price by 29 cents.
When it comes to alcohol, the average price of a 50cl can of lager bought for home consumption was €2.41 — down two cents since June 2024. A 50cl can of cider, however, went up by three cents to €2.71, reports Breaking News.
For those drinking out, the average price of a pint of stout in a licensed venue in June 2025 was €6.07, up 27 cents year-on-year. A pint of lager was priced at €6.49, an increase of 29 cents compared to June 2024.
Other sectors facing notable inflation included recreation and culture, which rose by 3.5 per cent, reports Breaking News.
Categories that saw the biggest drops since June 2024 were clothing and footwear, which declined by 2.3 per cent, and transport, down 2 per cent.
Month-on-month, consumer prices rose by 0.5 per cent between May and June 2025.
Anthony Dawson, statistician in the Prices Division, said: “Today’s release of the CPI shows that prices for consumer goods and services in June 2025 rose by 1.8 per cent on average when compared with June 2024. The most significant increases in the 12 months to June 2025 were seen in food and non-alcoholic beverages (+4.6 per cent) and recreation and culture (+3.5 per cent). The annual change in food and non-alcoholic beverages costs reflects a rise in prices across a range of products, such as beef and veal and butter. Clothing and footwear (-2.3 per cent) and transport (-2.0 per cent) were the divisions to show the largest declines when compared with June 2024. Consumer prices in June 2025 rose by 0.5 per cent in the month compared with June 2024, when prices were up by 0.4 per cent in the month. In June 2025, the most significant monthly price changes were in recreation and culture (+3.6 v) and transport (+1.2 per cent),” reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
