Wholesale electricity prices up almost 77% in the past year

CSO Wholesale Price Index for August shows rising energy costs

Wholesale electricity prices rose by almost 77% in the 12 months to August 2026, according to data released by the Central Statistics Office on Tuesday. Picture: PA 

Wholesale electricity prices rose by almost 77% in the 12 months to August 2026, according to data released by the Central Statistics Office on Tuesday.

The CSO Wholesale Price Index August 2026 showed that, overall, wholesale price inflation decreased across all sectors in August 2026, with a 0.8% decline in the overall Producer Price Index for manufacturing industries in the month.

However, energy costs showed notable increases. Wholesale electricity prices jumped 9.6% in August compared to a month previous. CSO statistician Deirdre Toher said wholesale electricity prices in August were 76.9% higher compared with August 2025.

The price index for all energy fuels rose by 11% in August 2026 compared with July,  and was up by 34.5% in the year since August 2025.

Producer prices for food products decreased by 2.1% since July 2026, despite a slight increase (0.6%) in the 12 months to August 2026. "Some of the most notable changes in producer prices for food products over the 12 months to August 2026 were: Fish & Fish Products (+8.6%), Other Food Products (+5.8%), and Meat & Meat Products (-9.6%)," said Ms Toher.

Wholesale prices for Construction Products were unchanged in the month to August 2026 but rose by 3.3% in the 12 months since August 2025.