Inflation in Ireland rises to 3.6% as energy costs surge

The EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for Ireland rose by 3.6% in the 12 months to March.

A rise in the cost of energy has pushed the rate of inflation in Ireland to 3.6%, according to figures published on Monday.

The EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for Ireland rose by 3.6% in the 12 months to March.

This compares with a rise of 2.5% in the 12 months to February 2026 and an annual increase of 1.9% in the HICP for the eurozone in the same period.

Energy prices are estimated to have risen by 11.1% in March and were up by 12.3% over the 12 months.

Food prices are estimated to have decreased by 0.3% in the last month and gone up by 2.3% in the last 12 months.

Excluding energy and unprocessed food, the HICP is estimated to have grown by 2.6% since March 2025.

CSO official Anthony Dawson said service prices had also risen by 0.9% in a month and are up by 3.3% in the 12 months to March.

Eurostat will publish the March flash estimates of inflation from the EU HICP for the eurozone on Tuesday.