Cost of living

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#Cost of living

Articles and features relating to the increasing cost of living in Ireland

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The unit rate of Pinergy’s electricity will jump by just under 10%, while its standing charge will remain unchanged.</p>

news

Pinergy to hike electricity prices by almost 10% from September

Around 28,000 households will face higher bills from September as wholesale energy costs continue to rise and arrears reach record levels.

<p>Irish Road Haulage Association president Ger Hyland said any decision to wind down fuel supports at this time would “drive inflation and have a severe impact on households and families across the country". </p>

companies

Farmers and hauliers seek delay in excise rate hike

<p>The number of accounts in arrears for more than 90 days has also increased for both electricity and gas bills, with 188,748 for electricity, and 142,090 for gas, both increased on the figures from this time last year. File picture </p>

news

More households in energy arrears than ever before, CRU figures show

MixCollage-17-Jan-2025-04-36-PM-3143

Caitríona Redmond: Could fixed discounts on grocery prices help with the cost of living here?

Mayo pub spending surges by 210% after All-Ireland win

economy

Mayo pub spending surges by 210% after All-Ireland win

Elaine-Loughlin

Elaine Loughlin: Reliance on fruit and veg imports reveals just how vulnerable our food security is

Wind turbines in Ireland aerial view

Alan Healy: We're throwing away the cheap electricity — then paying to import the dear stuff

There is a bitter irony about €41 increase in electricity bills coming into effect in October which is needed to strengthen a grid that is unable to carry the cheap electricity we do generate

Fri, 07 Aug, 2026

Young woman enjoys time in kitchen with a smile while looking out the window during a sunny day

Joan Cronin: Free women often choose to remain child-free — why's that so hard to understand?

While finance can influence family planning, particularly the number of children women will have, it is rarely the sole deciding factor

Fri, 31 Jul, 2026

Inflation figures

Cost of living fears weighs heavily on Irish public as consumer sentiment dips

"Ddisappointing" softening in sentiment came despite lower retail fuel costs in July and a slight easing in inflation,

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

Close Up Of Person With Addiction To Online Gambling Or Shopping Using Credit Card And Mobile Phone

Caitríona Redmond: How new €3 customs charge is changing online shopping habits

Items from outside the EU are attracting higher levies, but the quality of the goods is also coming under the microscope

Mon, 27 Jul, 2026

Newlyweds cutting wedding cake

Colin Sheridan: How has the Government performed after 548 days in office?

Colin Sheridan argues governments should be judged by delivery, not promises, as key election commitments remain unmet

Sat, 25 Jul, 2026

Budget 2027: €1.5bn in tax cuts, and ministers must 'prioritise' if they seek to increase spending

Budget 2027: €1.5bn in tax cuts, and ministers must 'prioritise' if they seek to increase spending

Jack Chambers tells departments 'real trade-offs and prioritisation will be required' as 'there’s less available across Government next year than there was last year'

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Close-up boy studying at home with tablet and doing school homework. Distance learning online education or stay at home concept.

Wider mix of expenses makes it harder for parents to plan and absorb school costs, survey says

Primary school parents told the Irish League of Credit Unions they expect to spend €1,607 across the school year, while post-primary school parents expect to spend €2,142

Tue, 14 Jul, 2026

Father with daughter (9-12 months) and shopping list in supermarket

Caitríona Redmond: My six steps to help keep your grocery costs down

Chaotic and impulsive supermarket runs will cost you money. Here's my advice on keeping your bills down

Mon, 13 Jul, 2026

Bakhurst says Late Late Show host Kiely's salary is no more than €250k

Bakhurst says Late Late Show host Kiely's salary is no more than €250k

RTÉ announced earlier this week that Mr Kielty would host the Late Late Show until 2028

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026

Solar panels on residential roof in closeup shot.

Free solar panels and higher grants under new Government plan to reduce energy costs

The 'Irish Examiner' understands that the total costs of these measures could be in the region of €200m in a full calendar year.

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

unleaded petrol and diesel fuel pumps at a self service petrol station in the UK

Tánaiste details when excise on petrol and diesel will increase as cuts phased out

Government agrees phased withdrawal of fuel excise relief while the Tánaiste presses retailers over delayed reductions at the pumps

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Two thirds of Irish people would vote to remain in EU - survey

Two thirds of Irish people would vote to remain in EU - survey

'More In Common' poll: Irish voters favour stronger economic ties with the EU, and now regard several European countries — including the UK — as closer allies than the US

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Irish life chief defends health insurance premium hikes

S Irish life chief defends health insurance premium hikes

Declan Bolger says premiums are linked to claim costs and that health insurance is a 'very low margin business'

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Close up of a young woman refueling her car

Taoiseach: Excise cut extension will be "definitively" decided on Tuesday

Micheál Martin said this would ensure any legislative measures required could be completed “in good time” before the Dáil’s summer recess

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Petrol costs

Tánaiste hints at excise duty cuts on petrol and diesel being extended

However, Simon Harris said he 'cannot ignore' that petrol and diesel prices have started to fall in recent days

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Local gift card scheme in Cork town sees €200,000 sales in five months

Local gift card scheme in Cork town sees €200,000 sales in five months

The Grá Macroom gift card aims to keep spending local, with over 100 businesses accepting the card

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Happy family on train station

Living costs jump 24% as lower income families left behind, SVP report warns

The income needed for a basic standard of living has risen sharply in recent years, with lower-income households struggling to keep pace with surging costs, a new report has found.

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Meets UK Executives

Tesco's Cork chief executive Ken Murphy says poor weather putting dampener on growth

Sales in Ireland grow 5.56% to €966m, boosted by strong growth in food and online shopping

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Worried man checking bills and looking at financial analysis of expenses at home.

Quarter of Irish workers could only cope financially for a month if their income stopped, survey finds

People in their 30s and 40s most vulnerable to financial shock if their regular income were to stop suddenly, while those aged 55 and over could cope for seven months on average

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Senior couple going over bills

Irish consumers feel more financial pressure than their peers across Europe – survey

Survey finds that most consumers plan to reduce spending, 33% have scaled back savings contributions, and 28% have drawn down existing savings to cover the cost of living

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Mick Clifford: North-South interconnector saga drags on for over two decades

Mick Clifford: North-South interconnector saga drags on for over two decades

Locals accept North-South interconnector is important to the electricity grid. But they are seeking 'procedural justice' and for every possible solution, including going underground, to be properly examined

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Irish Examiner view: Duty of care owed to prisoners

Irish Examiner view: Duty of care owed to prisoners

There are no addiction nurses employed by the Irish Prison Service, even though thousands of prisoners suffer from addiction issues

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Electric bill charges paper

Vulnerable households get less protection than well-off from energy price hikes, ESRI says

The Economic and Social Research Institute's associate research professor Dr Claire Keane said: 'More targeted measures could better protect vulnerable groups at a lower cost'

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Alan Healy: Trump's antics giving Ireland's households financial whiplash

Move by the ECB to raise rates is directly linked to the US conflict with Iran

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Close Up Of Woman Opening Euro Energy Bill During Cost Of Living Crisis

Renewed calls for energy credits as more than 500,000 in arrears on bills

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan said the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a close ally and supporter of Putin, 'retains a controlling share of the company that has a majority ownership of Aughinish Alumina'

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

Worried young couple with financial bills stock photo

Budget 2027 'must target people most at risk of fuel poverty'

The Just Transition Commission said reducing vulnerable people's exposure to price shocks would work better than 'universal energy credits and broad fuel price cuts'

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

Irish suburban neighborhood

Housing affordability impacting younger generations' career and life decisions

Some 54% of Gen Zs and 54% of millennials in Ireland say they have delayed major life decisions due to their financial situation

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

Housing stock

Dublin homes cost 13 times annual earnings, compared with six times in Belfast

CSO figures show higher incomes and economic output in Ireland, but significantly less affordable housing

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Man holding shopping basket with bread and milk groceries in supermarket

I compared grocery receipts from 2022 to today — here's how much more a basket costs now

This week, I used my historic records to check in on progress over the past four years and goodness, the price of a sample shopping basket has certainly changed dramatically

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

Close Up Of Woman Opening Euro Energy Bill During Cost Of Living Crisis

Irish people believe in climate change — we just don’t want to pay more for it

'Irish Examiner' poll finds strong support for incentives and infrastructure investment, but little appetite for new climate-related taxes

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

People are holding banner signs while they are going to a demonstration against climate change

Climate change ranks behind housing, healthcare, and cost of living for voters – poll

Irish Examiner Ipsos B&A poll suggests we prioritise living costs, healthcare, and housing ahead of climate issues at elections

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

Data centres 'help secure 94k Irish jobs’ – Government-commissioned study

Data centres 'help secure 94k Irish jobs’ – Government-commissioned study

Department of Enterprise-commissioned study warns that if data centre development is curbed, Ireland could miss out on €1.6bn in annual employment-related tax revenues

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

Senior couple discussing over medical bill while sitting on sofa at retirement home

Cost of living, health, housing eclipse climate issue in people's priorities – Irish Examiner poll

Irish people surveyed do not believe the effects of climate change should be our top priority — and yet, the soaring cost of energy is among our highest priorities

Sun, 31 May, 2026

Electric bill charges paper

Electric Ireland customers to pay up to €138 more annually under new price rises

More than one million customers will face higher energy bills from July amid rising wholesale market pressures

Thu, 28 May, 2026

Irish Cabinet meeting

Free accommodation for Ukrainians to be withdrawn by March 2027

Free state accommodation for Ukrainians living in Ireland will be withdrawn by March 2027 and payments will be available to those who return home, the Justice Minister has said.

Tue, 26 May, 2026

Spotify Adds Covid Notices In Effort To Stop Rogan Boycotts

Spotify boss defends move to AI-generated music

Spotify’s chief executive has defended the company’s move into AI-generated music, claiming it offers users and creators a better alternative to piracy and unregulated AI slop.

Tue, 26 May, 2026

Consumer sentiment recovers slightly in May as energy cost concerns ease

Consumer sentiment recovers slightly in May as energy cost concerns ease

Economist Austin Hughes said the improvement in consumer sentiment in May could reflect two different developments — a ceasefire in the Middle East and the Irish Government introducing supports in response to the global energy crisis

Fri, 22 May, 2026

lease, rental and selling home. Real estate agent manager smile holding key for new owner. rent house, Sales, loan credit financ

Rents rose a record 4.4% after Government reforms came into force, new report shows

A new report suggests that landlords delayed putting properties on the market to take advantage of the new system

Wed, 20 May, 2026

Galway West: Fianna Fáil's young Cillian Keane wooing voters for transfers

Galway West: Fianna Fáil's young Cillian Keane wooing voters for transfers

Political Correspondent Louise Burne joined the youngest candidate in Friday's by-election as he put in the work on the doorsteps

Tue, 19 May, 2026

Homeless figures

Renters face return to parents' box room due to eviction threat - SF claims

Tens of thousands of renters do not know where they will be living in six months’ time due to the threat of eviction, Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson has said.

Tue, 19 May, 2026

Irish Cabinet meeting

Student fees will only go down under Government, says minister

Higher education minister says future fee reductions will be delivered alongside targeted supports for struggling student households

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Fianna Fail Ard Fheis

Taoiseach promises family-focused Budget amid concerns over Iran conflict and oil prices

Government signals stronger focus on household supports as global instability threatens economic and budgetary projections

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Iran War Strait of Hormuz

Government must 'stop people freezing to death' in winter if Iran war continues, groups warn

Also, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers received Cabinet approval to introduce stricter spending controls to tackle department overruns

Tue, 12 May, 2026

Irish pubs are dying: VFI chief calls for emergency government action

Irish pubs are dying: VFI chief calls for emergency government action

'A pub is more than just a business. It performs a vitally important public function as a hub of social and cultural life'

Tue, 12 May, 2026