Inflation figures ‘welcome relief’

Consumer prices rose by 0.2% year-on-year in September, mirroring the three-year low annualised rate of inflation arrived at in August.

Latest CSO data published yesterday shows that prices dipped by 0.1% when measured on a month-by-month basis in September.

The yearly change was driven by a near 5% surge in the price of educational products and the cost of alcohol and tobacco, while on a monthly basis slight declines in communications and transport prices were noted, against stronger climbs in the cost of clothing and fuel and utility services.