Let us know what's working for you and what can be improved in our quick & easy 5 minute survey: CSO Website Usage Survey
The EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for Ireland is estimated to have risen by 3.6% in the 12 months to March 2026 and increased by 1.8% since February 2026.
This compares with HICP inflation of 2.5% in Ireland in the 12 months to February 2026 and an annual increase of 1.9% in the HICP for the Eurozone in the same period.
Looking at the components of the flash HICP for Ireland in March 2026, energy prices are estimated to have climbed by 11.1% in the month and were up by 12.3% over the 12 months to March 2026.
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.
Eurostat will publish flash estimates of inflation from the EU HICP for the Eurozone for March 2026 on 31 March 2026.
| HICP Special Aggregate | Monthly % Change | Annual % Change |
|---|---|---|
| HICP excluding Energy and Unprocessed Food | 0.9 | 2.6 |
| Energy | 11.1 | 12.3 |
| Services | 0.9 | 3.3 |
| Non-Energy Industrial Goods | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Food excluding Alcohol and Tobacco | -0.3 | 2.3 |
| Unprocessed Food | -0.1 | 4.5 |
| Processed Food | -0.3 | 1.5 |
| Food including Alcohol and Tobacco | -0.2 | 2.2 |
| HICP excluding Energy | 0.8 | 2.7 |
| HICP excluding Energy, Food, Alcohol and Tobacco | 1.0 | 2.7 |
| All Items HICP | 1.8 | 3.6 |
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the official measure of inflation for Ireland and is published monthly by the CSO. The CPI release for March 2026 will be published on 09 April 2026 and the final results of the HICP for Ireland for March 2026 will be published as part of the CPI release. The HICP is an index of consumer prices that has been harmonised to allow comparisons across Eurozone countries. The CSO compile the HICP flash estimates and final results for Ireland and submit those to Eurostat who then compile the Eurozone estimate and publish that along with the results for the countries within the Eurozone. While the final HICP results for the Eurozone are usually published by Eurostat around the middle of the month following the reference month, flash estimates are issued around the end of each reference month.
The Eurostat publication of flash estimate data can be found on the Eurostat website at 10am on 31 March 2026: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/home. Eurostat are expected to publish the final HICP results for the Eurozone for March 2026 at 10am on 16 April 2026.
| Anthony Dawson | (+353) 21 453 5521 |
|---|---|
| cpi@cso.ie |
-- ENDS --
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (30 March 2026) published the flash estimates of inflation from the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for Ireland for March 2026. Eurostat will publish the figures for the whole of the Eurozone, including Ireland, on 31 March 2026.
Commenting on the data published today, Anthony Dawson, Statistician in the Prices Division, said: “The latest flash estimate of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), compiled by the CSO, indicates that prices for consumer goods and services in Ireland are estimated to have risen by 3.6% in the past year. Looking at the components of the flash HICP in Ireland for March 2026, energy prices are estimated to have increased by 11.1% in the month and risen by 12.3% since March 2025. These increases in energy prices may have been influenced by recent events in the Middle East. These prices were collected in mid-March and before the Government measures on energy costs were introduced. The HICP excluding energy and unprocessed food prices, is estimated to have gone up by 2.6% since March 2025.
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. Service prices have risen by 0.9% in the month and are up by 3.3% in the 12 months to March 2026.
The corresponding rate for the Eurozone will be published on 31 March 2026. These flash estimates are subject to revision when the final HICP results are published next month (See Editor’s Note below).”