Food Inflation

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Food Inflation

#Food Inflation

As grocery bills soar, experts forecast likely future trends and we look at ways to buy quality, sustainable food for a fair price. A grocery / food prices content partnership with ICMSA

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Figures published this week by the energy regulator showed that just under 320,000 homes were behind on their electricity bills at the end of March. File photo</p>

news

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'

<p>In the 12 weeks to May 17, grocery price inflation rose by 5.5% compared to the same time last year - which is the slowest rate of increase since July 2025. </p>

economy

Grocery price inflation eases in May

<p>'There is no question that we produce extraordinary food,' says Orla McAndrew of Orla McAndrew Food. Picture: Darragh Kane</p>

comment-analysis

People think 'Irish food culture' is hot chicken rolls and Taytos — we need to change that

Grocery inflation

economy

Shoppers 'squeezed' as Irish grocery inflation rises to 6.7%

Shoppers at supermarket Sainsbury's for their weekly shopping when special prices are on offer, dealing with the cost of living

economy

Grocery inflation hits 6.5% with 'additional price increases' ahead due to Iran war

Shoppers at supermarket Sainsbury's for their weekly shopping when special prices are on offer, dealing with the cost of living

news

Inflation rises in year to February as cheese, white bread and butter prices go up

Weekly supermarket shopping

Caitríona Redmond: We’ve had enough jargon — why do we feel like we have less money?

The terms negative consumer sentiment, Vibecession, Boomcession, and K-Shaped Economy don’t quite describe that bad feeling when we struggle with the cost of grocery shopping. It’s time to debunk the jargon and start calling the high cost of living a saga.

Mon, 02 Mar, 2026

Full shopping cart, customer is stocking vital needs because of global chaos. Shopping with blur supermarket store products, int

Households face gloomy 'vibecession' with food bills expected to remain high

David Looney, a financial advisory director at Alpha Wealth, said the inflation figures for January show that the rising cost of food remains 'stubbornly' high as consumers are feeling the pinch

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

New figures reveal the cost of pancakes has surged in the space of five years

New figures reveal the cost of pancakes has surged in the space of five years

Ahead of Pancake Tuesday, the Central Statistics Office said its inflation figures show a sharp rise in the ingredients you need to make the popular pre-Lent delicacy

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Food prices

Food, pints and insurance costs surge as inflation hits Irish households

New CSO figures show food, drink and insurance costs rising far faster than headline inflation, deepening pressure on households

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

€1.5bn spent on groceries over Christmas as prices continue to rise

€1.5bn spent on groceries over Christmas as prices continue to rise

Annual grocery inflation hit 6.25% during the December period

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Couple discussing over medical bill while sitting on sofa

Inflation has hit Irish wallets — but wage rises help us stay ahead

The CSO's 'harmonised index of consumer prices' is a crucial measure of spending power

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Confidence in food export growth sees 'marked decline'

Confidence in food export growth sees 'marked decline'

This is despite food and drink exports hitting a record high in 2025 of €19bn

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Gambling addicted man with glasses in front of online casino slot machine on laptop computer at night

Gambling spend spikes as cost-of-living crisis pushes some consumers to bet

Experts warn financial strain and relentless advertising are driving a surge in gambling, raising fresh concerns about addiction and regulation

Wed, 31 Dec, 2025

Aldi Grocery Store

Butter price war spreads as Aldi announces cuts

It comes as the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the average price of a pound of butter increased by 55c in the last year, to €4.88

Mon, 29 Dec, 2025

Woman Scanning Groceries at Self Checkout in Supermarket

Grocery price inflation eases slightly in run-up to Christmas

Nearly 18% of Irish households bought their groceries online in the 12 weeks to November 30

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

christmas caution

Parents urged to put safety at top of Santa's list this Christmas

Doctor offers advice about bikes, e-scooters, helmets, and phones for older children — and the risk of choking hazards in toys for toddlers

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

More than 40% of consumers feel financially worse off this Christmas

More than 40% of consumers feel financially worse off this Christmas

One in three survey respondents stated they will be opting for lower-cost alternatives across the board this year

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Crunching the household budget

Majority of households have less to spend during Christmas this year as financial worries mount

Irish consumers plan to cut back on entertainment and spending on presents, survey finds

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Cost-of-living crisis sees more middle-income families turning to charity

Cost-of-living crisis sees more middle-income families turning to charity

High food price inflation and increasing energy costs mean "it really could be anybody" seeking the support of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP).

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

A customer buys in a store.

Consumers facing an expensive Christmas as food and energy prices soar

CSO figures show inflation last month was at its highest level since March 2024

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

Farmer pouring raw milk into container

Wholesale food prices up by 4.5% in September

Prices for food, beverage, and tobacco products have increased by 3.5%, according to the CSO

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025

Woman Scanning Groceries at Self Checkout in Supermarket

Grocery price inflation hits highest level since December 2023

Inflation reached 6.5% in the 12 weeks to October 5, well ahead of the headline inflation rate of 2.7%

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

Shoppers at supermarket Sainsbury's for their weekly shopping when special prices are on offer, dealing with the cost of living

Caitríona Redmond: Families go backwards as Paschal Donohoe peels an orange in his pocket

Soaring energy prices and food shrinkflation are battering even the most frugal of families — and Budget 2026 has done nothing for them

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Woman shopping at a grocery store and checking her receipt

Grocery price inflation increases again, putting further pressure on households

Significant price rises in weeks leading up to September 7 came amid increased household spending as schools started after summer break, new data shows

Mon, 22 Sep, 2025

Budget 2026 spending package 'unnecessary' and 'too much', warns Central Bank

Budget 2026 spending package 'unnecessary' and 'too much', warns Central Bank

Consumer spending is expected to grow by 2% a year on average out to 2027

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

Grocery inflation

Wealth tax would allow for a cost-of-living package in next month's budget

Irrespective of how it would be funded, a significant Budget 2026 cost-of-living package needs to happen to help hard-pressed consumers facing soaring prices

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Cost of electricity: halogen bulb and twenty Euro notes

A perfect storm: Rising energy, health insurance and food bills pile pressure on Irish families

Electricity bills will rise by €29 a year while health insurance premiums jump 3%, compounding grocery and inflation pressures

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

young mum queries a bill on the phone .

Consumer sentiment improves marginally in August but cost-of-living concerns rise

Irish League of Credit Unions index shows consumer sentiment index reached 61.1 during August, up from the 59.1 figure reported for July

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Grocery price inflation inches upwards again

Grocery price inflation inches upwards again

Brands currently hold 47% value share of the total market with own label products at 47.1% value share

Mon, 25 Aug, 2025

Cork Crime: Soaring prices drive a surge in the theft of meat

Cork Crime: Soaring prices drive a surge in the theft of meat

Shoplifters are stealing expensive cuts of prime steaks and legs of lamb for sale on the black market

Mon, 04 Aug, 2025

Government press conference

Jim Power: Budget countdown begins with big promises

Delivery on time and on budget of the aspirations in the revised National Development Plan — energy, water, housing, transport infrastructure, and climate change — will be essential

Sun, 27 Jul, 2025

Full shopping cart, customer is stocking vital needs because of global chaos. Shopping with blur supermarket store products, int

'Eat or heat': Irish families cut back on food and other essentials as prices surge 4.6%

Families are buying less, or poorer quality, food as CSO reports grocery price rises at double the general inflation rate

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

Shopping basket staples rose in price by 4.6% in the past year

Shopping basket staples rose in price by 4.6% in the past year

But overall Consumer Price Index rises by 1.8% in year to June, says CSO

Thu, 10 Jul, 2025

Family shopping in supermarket

Families across Ireland 'scrimping and saving' to afford basic food, Dáil told

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said shopping bills had risen €3,000 a year and called for supermarkets to be required to report their profits in Ireland

Wed, 09 Jul, 2025

Government is 'very committed' to reducing the cost of living, Taoiseach insists

Government is 'very committed' to reducing the cost of living, Taoiseach insists

Micheál Martin was responding to criticism from members of the opposition

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

Detail of a man shopping in supermarket

Monthly supermarket spending surges by more than €90m

Further evidence of the rapid rise in food prices

Wed, 02 Jul, 2025

Driver Delivering Online Grocery Order

Grocery prices now rising three times faster than other goods

A pound of butter is now €1.03 more expensive than a year ago, Irish cheddar is up 57c/kg, with two litres of full-fat milk up 27c

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Hands putting a pepper into a basket

How to save on food bills as prices continue to rise

There are a lot of ways to avoid an eye-watering bill when you get to the supermarket till, writes John Hearne

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Government has 'left households to feel the pain' of rising food prices, says Sinn Féin

Government has 'left households to feel the pain' of rising food prices, says Sinn Féin

Social Democrats' deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan called on the Government to require all supermarket chains and retailers to publish detailed and full accounts of their profits

Tue, 24 Jun, 2025

Groceries price rises

Revolut customers spending 6% more per transaction on groceries as food prices outpace general inflation

New findings come as CSO figures show food inflation is now running at twice the general rise in price levels

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Old broken shoes of a little boy as a symbol for child poverty

Rosita Sweetman: I was poor when the country was — being poor in a rich Ireland must be torture

Ireland is now, statistically, one of the richest countries in the world - but child poverty, or children in consistent poverty, has increased by an astonishing 78% in the past year, according to a new report

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

woman hand hold shopping cart with Abstract blur supermarket aisle background

Grocery prices jump 5% as inflation surges

Good weather in May results in a €50,000 jump in suncare sales

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Consumer watchdog 'should have more powers to probe supermarket pricing'

Consumer watchdog 'should have more powers to probe supermarket pricing'

Proposal to boost powers of Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Wed, 28 May, 2025

Spring lamb costs up to €100 as butchers say Easter tradition may be priced out

Spring lamb costs up to €100 as butchers say Easter tradition may be priced out

Rising prices have made spring lamb unaffordable for many Irish families, forcing butchers and diners to rethink Easter traditions

Sun, 20 Apr, 2025

Detail of a man shopping in supermarket

Inflation ticks up to 2% in March

According to the CSO data, alcohol and tobacco saw the largest price increases over the last year, up 4.2%, followed by food and non-alcoholic drinks, up 3.3%

Thu, 10 Apr, 2025

Detail of a man shopping in supermarket

Grocery price inflation increases to 4.5% in March

Rising prices contributing to a 'slowdown in sales, having a marked impact on consumer habits', new market research data shows

Mon, 07 Apr, 2025

Detail of a man shopping in supermarket

Inflation up to 1.8% ahead of US tariffs announcement

Excluding energy and unprocessed food, inflation is estimated to have gone up by 2% since March 2024.

Mon, 31 Mar, 2025

What's Trump got to do with the price of eggs?

What's Trump got to do with the price of eggs?

Egg prices have been a rallying cry in the US since Donald Trump made it a campaign issue. Clodagh Harrington explains how this staple has become so politically relevant

Thu, 20 Mar, 2025

Table setting

Inflation rate ticks up again for the third straight month

Higher transport and restaurant costs saw inflation rate rise from 1.4% in December to 1.9% in January

Thu, 20 Feb, 2025