Ireland fifth most expensive EU country

Ireland was the fifth most expensive EU state in 2013.

The country ranks below Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Luxembourg, with prices 20% above the EU average.

The figures come from CSO statistics released today, which also show Ireland had the smallest increase in inflation in the EU between 2009 and 2013.

Michael Kilcoyne, Chairman of the Consumer Association, said wages haven't kept pace with such high prices.

"At the same time, wages have not increased, [and] many of the jobs that are created are national minimum wage jobs," he said.

"So we've arrived at a situation where may people can't make their ends meet."