Dramatic rise in cost of living, figures show

CONSUMER prices have risen more sharply in Ireland than any other country in the EU in the past year.

The cost of living here has also increased faster over the past six years than almost all other industrialised nations, including the US and Japan.

Latest EU figures show that the cost of goods and services have risen on average by 4.7% in Ireland in the past 12 months over twice the EU average of just 2.1%.