The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 3.7% between April 2025 and April 2026, up from an annual increase of 3.6% in the 12 months to March 2026. This was the highest annual rate of inflation observed in the CPI since January 2024 when the rate of inflation was 4.1%.
Excluding Energy and Unprocessed Food, the CPI grew by 2.6% in the 12 months to April 2026.
The divisions with the largest increases in the 12 months to April 2026 were Education Services (+8.9%), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+8.1%) and Clothing & Footwear (+7.9).
The only division to record a decline when compared with April 2025 was Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-0.6%).
Consumer prices rose by 0.5% in the month between March 2026 and April 2026.
The divisions with the largest rises in the month were Information & Communication (+1.6%) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+1.1%).
The only divisions that recorded decreases in the month were Clothing & Footwear (-1.2%) and Recreation, Sport & Culture (-0.5%).
Figure 1 shows the development of the CPI and HICP over recent months. The primary difference between CPI and HICP is the inclusion of Mortgage Interest in the CPI, whereas it’s not included in the HICP. Full details of the difference between CPI and HICP can be found in the background notes of this release.
null
| X-axis label | CPI | HICP |
| Apr 2025 | 2.2 | 2 |
|---|
| May 2025 | 1.7 | 1.4 |
|---|
| Jun 2025 | 1.8 | 1.6 |
|---|
| Jul 2025 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
|---|
| Aug 2025 | 2 | 1.9 |
|---|
| Sep 2025 | 2.7 | 2.7 |
|---|
| Oct 2025 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
|---|
| Nov 2025 | 3.2 | 3.1 |
|---|
| Dec 2025 | 2.8 | 2.7 |
|---|
| Jan 2026 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
|---|
| Feb 2026 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
|---|
| Mar 2026 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
|---|
| Apr 2026 | 3.7 | 3.6 |
|---|
|
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[1] "Aldi_Data_2022_31.RDS"
[1] "No Aldi data to save after processing!"
[1] "Aldi_Data_2024_23.RDS"
[1] "No Aldi data to save after processing!"
[1] "aldiscanner2025w4_trf"
[1] "Error encountered with aldiscanner2025w4_trf"
Error in `db_query_fields.DBIConnection()`:
! Can't query fields.
ℹ Using SQL: SELECT * FROM cpi_aldiscanner_transformed.aldiscanneraldiscanner2025w4_trfwaldiscanner2025w4_trf_trf `q01` WHERE (0 = 1)
Caused by error in `source()`:
! ODBC failed with error 00000 from [RStudio][SQLEngine].
✖ (31740) Table or view not found: HIVE.cpi_aldiscanner_transformed.aldiscanneraldiscanner2025w4_trfwaldiscanner2025w4_trf_trf
• 'SELECT *
• FROM cpi_aldiscanner_transformed.aldiscanneraldiscanner2025w4_trfwaldiscanner2025w4_trf_trf `q01`
• WHERE (0 = 1)'
ℹ From 'nanodbc/nanodbc.cpp:1722'.
---
Backtrace:
▆
1. ├─base::source(paste0(location, "/Development/Faith_Greene/Production_Workbench_COPY/01_Download_Weekly_Shop_Data_COPY.R"))
2. │ ├─base::withVisible(eval(ei, envir))
3. │ └─base::eval(ei, envir)
4. │ └─base::eval(ei, envir)
5. ├─base::tryCatch(...) at Faith_Greene/Production_Workbench_COPY/01_Download_Weekly_Shop_Data_COPY.R:114:9
6. │ └─base (local) tryCatchList(expr, classes, parentenv, handlers)
7. │ └─base (local) tryCatchOne(expr, names, parentenv, handlers[[1L]])
8. │ └─base (local) doTryCatch(return(expr), name, parentenv, handler)
9. ├─... %>% mutate(across(where(is.character), ~ na_if(., ""))) at Faith_Greene/Production_Workbench_COPY/01_Download_Weekly_Shop_Data_COPY.R:116:11
10. ├─dplyr::mutate(., across(where(is.character), ~na_if(., "")))
11. ├─dplyr::select(...)
12. ├─dplyr::mutate(...)
13. ├─dplyr::mutate_at(...)
14. │ └─dplyr:::manip_at(...)
15. │ └─dplyr:::tbl_at_syms(...)
16. │ └─dplyr:::tbl_at_vars(...)
17. │ └─dplyr::tbl_vars(tbl)
18. │ ├─dplyr:::new_sel_vars(tbl_vars_dispatch(x), group_vars(x))
19. │ │ └─base::structure(...)
20. │ └─dplyr:::tbl_vars_dispatch(x)
21. ├─dplyr::rename(...)
22. ├─tibble::as_tibble(.)
23. ├─dplyr::tbl(...)
24. ├─dplyr:::tbl.DBIConnection(...)
25. │ ├─dplyr::tbl(...)
26. │ └─dbplyr:::tbl.src_dbi(...)
27. │ └─dbplyr::tbl_sql(c(subclass, "dbi"), src = src, from = from, ...)
28. │ ├─base::withCallingHandlers(...)
29. │ ├─vars %||% dbplyr_query_fields(src$con, source)
30. │ └─dbplyr:::dbplyr_query_fields(src$con, source)
31. │ └─dbplyr:::dbplyr_fallback(con, "db_query_fields", ...)
32. │ ├─rlang::eval_bare(expr((!!fun)(con, ...)))
33. │ └─dbplyr:::db_query_fields.DBIConnection(con, ...)
34. │ └─dbplyr:::db_get_query(con, sql, "Can't query fields.")
35. │ ├─dbplyr:::dbi_wrap(...)
36. │ │ └─base::withCallingHandlers(...)
37. │ ├─DBI::dbGetQuery(con, sql)
38. │ └─odbc::dbGetQuery(con, sql)
39. │ └─odbc (local) .local(conn, statement, ...)
40. │ ├─DBI::dbSendQuery(...)
41. │ └─odbc::dbSendQuery(...)
42. │ └─odbc (local) .local(conn, statement, ...)
43. │ └─odbc:::OdbcResult(...)
44. │ └─odbc:::new_result(p = connection@ptr, sql = statement, immediate = immediate)
45. └─odbc (local) ``("nanodbc/nanodbc.cpp:1722: 00000\n[RStudio][SQLEngine] (31740) Table or view not found: HIVE.cpi_aldiscanner_transformed.aldiscanneraldiscanner2025w4_trfwaldiscanner2025w4_trf_trf \n 'SELECT *\nFROM cpi_aldiscanner_transformed.aldiscanneraldiscanner2025w4_trfwaldiscanner2025w4_trf_trf `q01`\nWHERE (0 = 1)'")
[1] "Aldi_Data_2026_14.RDS"
[1] "Error encountered with Aldi_Data_2026_14.RDS"
[1] "Aldi_Data_2026_15.RDS"
[1] "Error encountered with Aldi_Data_2026_15.RDS"
[1] "Aldi_Data_2026_16.RDS"
[1] "Error encountered with Aldi_Data_2026_16.RDS"
[1] "Aldi_Data_2026_17.RDS"
[1] "Error encountered with Aldi_Data_2026_17.RDS"
[1] "Lidl_Data_2024_08.RDS"
[1] "No Lidl data to save after processing!"
[1] "Lidl_Data_2024_22.RDS"
[1] "No Lidl data to save after processing!"
[1] "Lidl_Data_2024_27.RDS"
[1] "No Lidl data to save after processing!"
[1] "Lidl_Data_2024_28.RDS"
[1] "No Lidl data to save after processing!"
[1] "Lidl_Data_2024_41.RDS"
[1] "No Lidl data to save after processing!"
[1] "Lidl_Data_2025_00.RDS"
[1] "No Lidl data to save after processing!"
[1] "Lidl_Data_2026_16.RDS"
[1] "Error encountered with Lidl_Data_2026_16.RDS"
[1] "Lidl_Data_2026_17.RDS"
[1] "Error encountered with Lidl_Data_2026_17.RDS"
[1] "Lidl_Data_2026_18.RDS"
[1] "Error encountered with Lidl_Data_2026_18.RDS"
[1] "svscanner2022_src"
[1] "svscanner2023_src"
[1] "svscanner2024_src"
[1] "svscanner2025_src"
[1] "svscanner2026_src"
[1] "2026 16"
[1] "Error encountered with Supervalu 16 2026"
[1] "2026 17"
[1] "Error encountered with Supervalu 17 2026"
[1] "2026 18"
[1] "Error encountered with Supervalu 18 2026"
[1] "2026 01"
[1] "Error encountered with Tesco 01 2026"
[1] "2026 02"
[1] "Error encountered with Tesco 02 2026"
Error in `collect()`:
! Failed to collect lazy table.
Caused by error in `source()`:
! ODBC failed with error 00000 from .
✖
• 'SELECT
• `tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf`.`year_number` AS `year_number.x`,
• `tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf`.`week_number` AS `week_number.x`,
• `tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf`.`gtin` AS `gtin`,
• `tpnb`,
• `tpnc`,
• `source_of_transaction`,
• `revenue`,
• `tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf`.`quantity` AS `quantity.x`,
• `price`,
• `product_description`,
• `brand`,
• `subclass`,
• `section`,
• `division`,
• `department`,
• `class`,
• `tescoscanner_product_data2026w02_trf`.`quantity` AS `quantity.y`,
• `quantity_unit`,
• `replaced_tpnb`
• FROM cpi_tescoscanner_transformed.tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf
• LEFT JOIN cpi_tescoscanner_transformed.tescoscanner_product_data2026w02_trf
• ON (`tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf`.`gtin` = `tescoscanner_product_data2026w02_trf`.`gtin`)'
ℹ From 'nanodbc/nanodbc.cpp:1783'.
---
Backtrace:
▆
1. ├─base::source(paste0(location, "/Development/Faith_Greene/Production_Workbench_COPY/01_Download_Weekly_Shop_Data_COPY.R"))
2. │ ├─base::withVisible(eval(ei, envir))
3. │ └─base::eval(ei, envir)
4. │ └─base::eval(ei, envir)
5. ├─base::tryCatch(...) at Faith_Greene/Production_Workbench_COPY/01_Download_Weekly_Shop_Data_COPY.R:384:9
6. │ └─base (local) tryCatchList(expr, classes, parentenv, handlers)
7. │ └─base (local) tryCatchOne(expr, names, parentenv, handlers[[1L]])
8. │ └─base (local) doTryCatch(return(expr), name, parentenv, handler)
9. ├─... %>% mutate(across(where(is.character), ~ na_if(., ""))) at Faith_Greene/Production_Workbench_COPY/01_Download_Weekly_Shop_Data_COPY.R:385:11
10. ├─dplyr::mutate(., across(where(is.character), ~na_if(., "")))
11. ├─dplyr::select(...)
12. ├─dplyr::mutate(...)
13. ├─dplyr::mutate_at(...)
14. │ └─dplyr:::manip_at(...)
15. │ └─dplyr:::tbl_at_syms(...)
16. │ └─dplyr:::tbl_at_vars(...)
17. │ └─dplyr::tbl_vars(tbl)
18. │ ├─dplyr:::new_sel_vars(tbl_vars_dispatch(x), group_vars(x))
19. │ │ └─base::structure(...)
20. │ └─dplyr:::tbl_vars_dispatch(x)
21. ├─dplyr::rename(...)
22. ├─tibble::as_tibble(.)
23. ├─tibble:::as_tibble.default(.)
24. │ ├─tibble::as_tibble(...)
25. │ ├─base::as.data.frame(value, stringsAsFactors = FALSE)
26. │ └─dbplyr:::as.data.frame.tbl_sql(value, stringsAsFactors = FALSE)
27. │ ├─base::as.data.frame(collect(x, n = n))
28. │ ├─dplyr::collect(x, n = n)
29. │ └─dbplyr:::collect.tbl_sql(x, n = n)
30. │ ├─base::withCallingHandlers(...)
31. │ ├─dbplyr::db_collect(...)
32. │ └─dbplyr:::db_collect.DBIConnection(...)
33. │ ├─DBI::dbSendQuery(con, sql)
34. │ └─odbc::dbSendQuery(con, sql)
35. │ └─odbc (local) .local(conn, statement, ...)
36. │ └─odbc:::OdbcResult(...)
37. │ └─odbc:::new_result(p = connection@ptr, sql = statement, immediate = immediate)
38. └─odbc (local) ``("nanodbc/nanodbc.cpp:1783: 00000\n\n 'SELECT\n `tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf`.`year_number` AS `year_number.x`,\n `tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf`.`week_number` AS `week_number.x`,\n `tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf`.`gtin` AS `gtin`,\n `tpnb`,\n `tpnc`,\n `source_of_transaction`,\n `revenue`,\n `tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf`.`quantity` AS `quantity.x`,\n `price`,\n `product_description`,\n `brand`,\n `subclass`,\n `section`,\n `division`,\n `department`,\n `class`,\n `tescoscanner_product_data2026w02_trf`.`quantity` AS `quantity.y`,\n `quantity_unit`,\n `replaced_tpnb`\nFROM cpi_tescoscanner_transformed.tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf\nLEFT JOIN cpi_tescoscanner_transformed.tescoscanner_product_data2026w02_trf\n ON (`tescoscanner_weekly_sales_data2026w02_trf`.`gtin` = `tescoscanner_product_data2026w02_trf`.`gtin`)'")
[1] "2026 06"
[1] "Error encountered with Tesco 06 2026"
[1] "2026 15"
Prices on average, as measured by the CPI, are 3.7% higher in April 2026 compared with April 2025.
The most notable changes in the year were increases in Education Services (+8.9%), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+8.1%) and Clothing & Footwear (+7.9). The only division to show a decrease was Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-0.6%).
Consumer Prices in April, as measured by the CPI, increased by 0.5% in the month. During April of last year, prices increased by 0.4% in the month. The most significant monthly price increases were in Information & Communication (+1.6%) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+1.1%). The only monthly decreases were in Clothing & Footwear (-1.2%) and Recreation, Sport & Culture (-0.5%).
Table 1 - Consumer Price Index (All Items)
Table 2 - Consumer Price ECOICOP Division Indices - April 2026
Annual Change
Table 3 shows the contribution of each 2-digit ECOICOP1 division to the overall change in the CPI. A detailed breakdown of the individual components of each of the 13 ECOICOP divisions is presented in Tables 4 to 16.
The divisions which caused the largest upward percentage point (pp) contributions to the CPI in the year were Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+1.27 pp), Restaurants & Accommodation Services (+0.77 pp), Transport (+0.43 pp) and Clothing & Footwear (+0.32 pp).
The only division to cause a downward contribution to the CPI in the year was Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-0.03 pp).
The main factors contributing to the annual change were as follows:
- Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels increased primarily due to a rise in the cost of home heating oil, electricity, rent payments and mortgage interest repayments.
- Restaurants & Accommodation Services rose mainly due to higher prices for food and drinks consumed in licensed premises, restaurants, cafes etc. as well as increases in the cost of hotel accommodation.
- Transport rose due to higher prices for diesel and petrol.
- Clothing & Footwear increased due to higher costs for garments, shoes and other footwear.
- Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance fell mainly due to lower prices for furniture, furnishings & loose carpets.
1European Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose version 2.
Monthly Change
The divisions which caused the largest upward percentage point contributions to the CPI in the month were Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+0.18 pp) and Restaurants & Accommodation Services (+0.15 pp). The division that caused the largest downward percentage point contribution to the CPI in the month was Clothing & Footwear (-0.06 pp).
The main factors contributing to the monthly change were as follows:
- Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels rose due to higher prices for home heating oil, rent payments and mortgage interest.
- Restaurants & Accommodation Services increased primarily due to increases in the cost of hotel accommodation as well as higher prices for food and drinks consumed in licensed premises, restaurants, cafes etc.
- Clothing & Footwear fell due to sales.
Table 3 - Contributions to the change in the All Items CPI - April 2026
Tables 4 to 16 detail all ECOICOP sub-indices of the CPI.
Table 2 and table 18 detail selected consumer price index sub-indices. The sub index for Services rose by 3.2% in the year to April, while Goods increased by 4.2%. Services, excluding mortgage interest repayments, increased by 3.1% in the year since April 2025.
The CPI excluding tobacco increased by 0.5% in the month of April and rose by 3.6% in the year. The CPI excluding mortgage interest rose by 0.5% in the month and climbed by 3.6% in the year.
Table 4 - ECOICOP Division 01 Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages - April 2026
Table 5 - ECOICOP Division 02 Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco - April 2026
Table 6 - ECOICOP Division 03 Clothing and Footwear - April 2026
Table 7 - ECOICOP Division 04 Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels - April 2026
Table 8 - ECOICOP Division 05 Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance - April 2026
Table 9 - ECOICOP Division 06 Health - April 2026
Table 10 - ECOICOP Division 07 Transport - April 2026
Table 11 - ECOICOP Division 08 Information and Communication - April 2026
Table 12 - ECOICOP Division 09 Recreation, Sport and Culture - April 2026
Table 13 - ECOICOP Division 10 Education Services - April 2026
Table 14 - ECOICOP Division 11 Restaurants and Accommodation Services - April 2026
Table 15 - ECOICOP Division 12 Insurance and Financial Services - April 2026
Table 16 - ECOICOP Division 13 Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services - April 2026
Table 17 - Consumer Price Index Goods and Services by ECOICOP Division - April 2026
Table 18 - Consumer Price Index Subindices - April 2026
Prices on average, as measured by the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), increased by 3.6% compared with April 2025.
Table 20 details the ECOICOP sub-indices for the HICP. The most notable changes in the year were increases in Education Services (+9.0%), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+8.6%) and Clothing & Footwear (+7.9%). The only decrease was recorded in Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-0.7%).
The HICP increased by 0.5% in the month. This compares to an increase of 0.4% recorded in April of last year.
The most significant monthly price increases were in Information & Communication (+1.7%) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+1.1%). The largest price decrease was recorded in Clothing & Footwear (-1.2%).
Table 19 - EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) - Ireland
Table 20 - EU Harmonised Consumer Price ECOICOP Division Indices - April 2026 Ireland
National Average Prices for selected goods and services for April 2026 are detailed in Table 21.
Looking at the National Average Prices of some staple items:
- The national average price for bread (large (800g) white sliced pan) increased by 4 cents in the year to April 2026, while the same size brown sliced pan decreased by 2 cent in the year.
- The national average price of 1kg of sirloin steak rose by €2.34 in the year, while the average price for 2.5kg of potatoes was down 21 cents.
- The national average price of full fat milk per 2 litres was down 8 cents in the year, while butter per lb fell by 38 cents and the average price of Irish cheddar per kg decreased by 12 cents.
- The national average price of a take-home 50cl can of lager at €2.40 was down 1 cent from April 2025, while a take-home 50cl can of cider at €2.73 was up 4 cents.
- In April 2026, the national average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was €6.32, up 26 cents in the year, while a pint of lager was €6.75, up 27 cents compared with April 2025.
- The national average price for a litre of diesel in April 2026 was €2.17, an increase of 45c on the same time last year. Petrol prices increased by 16c to €1.91 a litre.
National Average Price
National Average Prices for selected goods and services for April 2026 are detailed below
These prices are compared to the same product and service in April 2025. A full list of National Average Prices is detailed in Table 21.
now
€21.82
Sirloin Steak (kg)
now
€3.62
Bag of Potatoes (2.5kg)
now
€2.38
Milk - Full Fat (2L)
now
€1.68
White Sliced Pan (800g)
now
€4.31
Butter (lb/454g)
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (14 May 2026) published the Consumer Price Index (CPI) April 2026.
Commenting on the release, Anthony Dawson, Statistician in the Prices Division, said: “Today’s release of the CPI shows that prices for consumer goods and services in April 2026 rose by 3.7% on average when compared with April 2025.
The collection of prices for April 2026 took place between 13-23 April which means that some fuel prices were collected before the introduction of additional Government measures on fuel costs.
Annual Changes
The most significant increases in the 12 months to April 2026 were seen in Education Services (+8.9%) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+8.1%). The annual change in Education Services reflects a rise in costs associated with third-level education which came into effect from October 2025. The rise in Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels was due to higher costs for home heating oil, electricity, rent payments and mortgage interest.
Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-0.6%) was the only division to show a decline when compared with April 2025.
Monthly Changes
Consumer prices in April 2026 rose by 0.5% in the month. This compares with a monthly increase of 0.4% in April 2025. In April 2026, the most significant monthly price increases were in Information & Communication (+1.6%) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+1.1%). The rise in Information & Communication prices was primarily due to increases in the prices of mobile communication services. The increase in Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels was due to increased costs for home heating oil, rent payments and mortgage interest.
Monthly decreases were only seen in Clothing & Footwear (-1.2%) and Recreation, Sport & Culture (-0.5%).
It should be noted that these figures relate to the CPI. The Flash Estimate Press Statement published on 29 April 2026 related to the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP).
(See Background Notes for differences between CPI and HICP)."
National Average Prices
The National Average Prices for selected goods and services for April 2026 are also published today. The National Average Prices are compiled together with the CPI.
Commenting on the National Average Prices, Anthony Dawson said: “There were price increases in the 12 months to April 2026 for sirloin steak per kg (+€2.34) and an 800g loaf of white sliced pan (+4c). There were decreases in the price of a pound of butter (-38c), a 2.5kg bag of potatoes (-21c), Irish cheddar per kg (-12c), 2 litres of full fat milk (-8c) and an 800g loaf of brown sliced pan (-2c) when compared with April 2025.
The national average price for a litre of diesel in April 2026 was €2.17, an increase of 45c on the same time last year. Petrol prices increased by 16c to €1.91 a litre.”
The comprehensive list of items included in the National Average Prices and their monthly prices are available in PxStat Table CPM12.