Annual inflation rate rises to 2.2%
Latest monthly figures from the CSO show consumer prices rose by 1% last month, following on from a 0.9% increase in February. That change pushed the annual rate of inflation up to 2.2% in March, slightly up on 2.1% in February.
Last month’s monthly price increases were mostly evident in the areas of transport (up 4%) and clothing/footwear (up by 2.7%); but there were also strong year-on-year rises in the cost of things like education — up nearly 10% on the same period last year — transport and energy. Health insurance costs were also up by 6.3% in the month and by 14% on an annualised basis.
