Consumer Price Index August 2025

Headline Table and Graph

Figure 1 shows the development of the CPI and HICP over recent months. It also shows the recent difference between the CPI and HICP. This difference is primarily due to the fact the CPI includes mortgage interest whereas the HICP does not include mortgage interest.

Annual and Monthly Price Changes

Prices on average, as measured by the CPI, were 2.0% higher in August 2025 compared with August 2024.

The most notable changes in the year were increases in Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+5.1%), Clothing & Footwear (+3.4%), Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+3.2%) and Restaurants & Hotels (+2.6%). The only divisions to show a decrease were Transport (-2.3%) and Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-0.8%).

Consumer Prices in August, as measured by the CPI, increased by 0.4% in the month. During August of last year, prices rose by 0.1% in the month. The most significant monthly price rises were in Clothing & Footwear (+8.8%) and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+0.5%). The only declines were recorded in Recreation & Culture (-1.7%) and Transport (-0.2%).

Contributions to the Overall CPI

Annual Change

Table 3 shows the contribution of each 2-digit COICOP¹ division to the overall change in the CPI. A detailed breakdown of the individual components of each of the 12 COICOP divisions is presented in Tables 4 to 15.

The divisions which caused the largest upward percentage point (pp) contributions to the CPI in the year were Restaurants & Hotels (+0.53 pp), Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+0.52 pp), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+0.37 pp) and Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+0.20 pp).

The only divisions to cause a downward contribution to the CPI in the year were Transport (-0.30 pp) and Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-0.04 pp).

The main factors contributing to the annual change were as follows:

• Restaurants & Hotels increased primarily due to higher prices for alcoholic drinks and food consumed in licensed premises, restaurants, cafes etc. This increase was partially offset by a reduction in the cost of hotel accommodation.
• Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages rose due to higher prices across a range of products such as meat, milk, cheese & eggs, chocolate & confectionery, breads & cereals and mineral waters, soft drinks, fruit & vegetables juices.
• Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels increased primarily due to higher rents, and an increase in the cost of electricity and gas. This increase was partially offset by a reduction in the price of liquid fuels (home heating oil).
• Miscellaneous Goods & Services rose mainly due to higher health and motor insurance premiums, higher prices in hairdressing salons & personal grooming establishments and a rise in the cost of articles & products for personal care. This increase was partially offset by lower prices for childcare services and jewellery, clocks & watches. 
• Transport decreased primarily due to lower prices for airfares, petrol and diesel. This reduction was partially offset by an increase in the cost of services in respect of personal transport equipment and the maintenance & repair of personal transport equipment.
• Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance fell mainly due to lower prices for furniture & furnishings and household textiles.

¹_{Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose Adapted to the Needs of Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (2000).}

Monthly Change

The divisions which caused the largest upward percentage point contributions to the CPI in the month were Clothing & Footwear (+0.35 pp) and Restaurants & Hotels (+0.08 pp). The only divisions which caused downward percentage point contributions to the CPI in the month were Recreation & Culture (-0.15 pp) and Transport (-0.02 pp).

The main factors contributing to the monthly change were as follows:

• Clothing & Footwear increased due to a recovery from sales.
• Restaurants & Hotels rose due to higher prices for alcoholic drinks and food consumed in licensed premises, restaurants, cafes etc. and an increase in the cost of hotel accommodation.
• Recreation & Culture decreased primarily due to lower prices for recording media and package holidays.
• Transport fell mainly due to lower airfares. This decrease was partially offset by a rise in the cost of services in respect of personal transport equipment.

CPI sub-indices

Tables 4 to 15 detail all COICOP¹ sub-indices of the CPI.

Table 2 and table 17 detail selected consumer price index sub-indices. The sub index for Services rose by 2.2% in the year to August, while Goods increased by 1.5%. Services, excluding mortgage interest repayments, increased by 2.4% in the year since August 2024.

The CPI excluding tobacco increased by 0.4% in the month of August and rose by 1.9% in the year. The CPI excluding mortgage interest rose by 0.4% in the month and increased by 2.1% in the year.

¹_{Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose Adapted to the Needs of Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (2000).}

Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices

Prices on average, as measured by the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), increased by 1.9% compared with August 2024.

Table 19 details the COICOP sub-indices for the HICP. The most notable changes in the year were increases in Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+5.1%), Clothing & Footwear (+3.3%), Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+3.2%) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+2.9%). There were decreases in Transport (-2.4%), Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-0.8%) and Miscellaneous Goods & Services (-0.6%).

The HICP increased by 0.4% in the month. This compares to an increase of 0.1% recorded in August of last year.

The most significant monthly price rises were in Clothing & Footwear (+8.8%) and Restaurants & Hotels (+0.4%). There were decreases in Recreation & Culture (-1.7%) and Transport (-0.5%).

National Average Price

National Average Prices for selected goods and services for August 2025 are detailed in Table 20.

Looking at the National Average Prices of some staple items:

• The national average price for bread (large (800g) white sliced pan) increased by 7 cents in the year to August 2025, while the same size brown sliced pan increased by 4 cents in the year.
• Spaghetti per 500g rose by 1 cent in the year, while the average price for 2.5kg of potatoes was down 35 cents.
• The national average price of full fat milk per 2 litres was up 28 cents in the year, while butter per lb rose by 91 cents and the average price of Irish cheddar per kg increased by 93 cents.
• The national average price of a take-home 50cl can of lager at €2.42 was down 1 cent from August 2024, while a take-home 50cl can of cider at €2.70 was up 3 cents.
• In August 2025, the national average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was €6.07, up 26 cents in the year, while a pint of lager was €6.50, also up 26 cents compared with August 2024.