Rip-off Ireland - State sector is stoking inflation

FAR reaching political, economic, employment and social implications flow from rip-off Ireland’s soaring inflation rate which is now 5.1% — well above the European average.

With Taoiseach Bertie Ahern preparing to go to the country within weeks, the latest statistics from the CSO represent bad news for the outgoing Fianna Fáil-PD administration. Especially since the CSO price analysis shows several of the main headline drivers of inflation are rooted in the State sector.

Over the year, the big changes involved consumer price increases of 23% in house mortgages, water charges, and the cost of electricity, gas and other fuels; alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+5.4%), education (+5.2%), restaurants and hotels (+4.6%) and health (+3.0%).