Ireland’s inflation rate unchanged at 3%

Ireland's inflation rate remained unchanged at 3% last month, according to figures published by the Central Statistics Office today.

The CSO said average prices increased by 0.1% during the month, the same rate of increase as that recorded in October 2004.

As a result, the annual inflation rate remained at 3%, compared to an EU average of 2.7%.

The CSO said the most notable cost-of-living increases in the past year were an 11.9% increase in the cost of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels and a 6.2% increase in health charges.

Transport costs are also up 6.1%, while education costs have risen by 4.8% in the past year and the prices charged by restaurants and hotels by 3.1%.