The EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for Ireland is estimated to have gone up by 3.5% in the 12 months to May 2026 and decreased by 0.1% since April 2026.
This compares with HICP inflation of 3.6% in Ireland in the 12 months to April 2026 and an annual increase of 3.0% in the HICP for the Eurozone in the same period.
Looking at the components of the flash HICP for Ireland in May 2026, energy prices are estimated to have decreased by 4.3% in the month and have gone up by 11.9% over the 12 months to May 2026.
Food prices are estimated to have increased by 0.1% in the last month and gone up by 1.4% in the last 12 months.
Excluding energy and unprocessed food, the HICP is estimated to have gone up by 2.7% since May 2025.
Eurostat will publish flash estimates of inflation from the EU HICP for the Eurozone for May 2026 on 02 June 2026.
| HICP Special Aggregate | Monthly % Change | Annual % Change |
|---|---|---|
| HICP excluding Energy and Unprocessed Food | 0.4 | 2.7 |
| Energy | -4.3 | 11.9 |
| Services | 0.4 | 3.7 |
| Non-Energy Industrial Goods | 0.3 | 0.9 |
| Food excluding Alcohol and Tobacco | 0.1 | 1.4 |
| Unprocessed Food | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| Processed Food | 0.2 | 1.3 |
| Food including Alcohol and Tobacco | 0.2 | 1.5 |
| HICP excluding Energy | 0.4 | 2.7 |
| HICP excluding Energy, Food, Alcohol and Tobacco | 0.3 | 2.8 |
| All Items HICP | -0.1 | 3.5 |
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the official measure of inflation for Ireland and is published monthly by the CSO. The CPI release for May 2026 will be published on 11 June 2026. and the final results of the HICP for Ireland for May 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 02 June 2026: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/home. Eurostat are expected to publish the final HICP results for the Eurozone for May 2026 at 10am on 17 June 2026.
| Anthony Dawson | (+353) 21 453 5521 |
|---|---|
| cpi@cso.ie |
-- ENDS --
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (29 May 2026) published the flash estimates of inflation from the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for Ireland for May 2026. Eurostat will publish the figures for the whole of the Eurozone, including Ireland, on 02 June 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 gone up by 3.5% in the past year. Looking at the components of the flash HICP in Ireland for May 2026, energy prices are estimated to have decreased by 4.3% in the month and gone up by 11.9 since May 2025. The HICP excluding energy and unprocessed food prices, is estimated to have gone up by 2.7% since May 2025.
Food prices are estimated to have increased by 0.1% in the last month and gone up by 1.4% in the last 12 months. Service prices have increased by 0.4% in the month and have gone up by 3.7% in the 12 months to May 2026.
The corresponding rate for the Eurozone will be published on 02 June 2026. These flash estimates are subject to revision when the final HICP results are published next month (See Editor’s Note below).”