Cost of living begins to fall despite price index up 2.2% on last year

MOTOR, home and health insurance costs all fell last month as figures show the cost of living has started to edge lower.

However, dairy products saw significant increases, with the price of milk rising 0.2%, butter increasing 0.5% and cheese prices jumping 1.5%.

Ireland’s consumer price index rose by a lower than expected 0.2% in August to stand 2.2% higher than a year earlier, according to the CSO.