Consumer Price Index May 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 1.7% higher in May 2025 compared with May 2024.

The most notable changes in the year were increases in Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+4.0%), Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+3.1%), Restaurants & Hotels (+2.8%) and Health (+2.8%). The divisions to show a decrease were Transport (-2.4%), Clothing & Footwear (-1.9%) and Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-0.6%).

Consumer Prices in May, as measured by the CPI, remained unchanged in the month. During May of last year, prices rose by 0.5% in the month. The most significant monthly price changes were increases in Clothing & Footwear (+1.8%) and Restaurants & Hotels (+0.9%). The largest decreases were recorded in Transport (-2.8%) and Recreation & Culture (-1.5%).

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 (+0.56 pp), Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+0.41 pp), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+0.33 pp) and Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+0.25 pp).

The divisions to cause a downward contribution to the CPI in the year were Transport (-0.29 pp), Clothing & Footwear (-0.09 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, chocolate & confectionery and milk, cheese & eggs. 
• Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels increased primarily due to higher rents, and an increase in the cost of electricity and services for the maintenance & repair of the dwelling. 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 and an increase in prices for other appliances, articles & products for personal care. This increase was partially offset by lower prices for childcare services.
• Transport decreased primarily due to lower prices for airfares, petrol and diesel. This reduction was partially offset by higher prices for the maintenance & repair of personal transport equipment.
• Clothing & Footwear fell due lower prices for garments and shoes & other footwear.
• Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance decreased primarily due to lower prices for furniture & furnishings.

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 Restaurants & Hotels (+0.19 pp) and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+0.09 pp). The divisions which caused the largest downward percentage point contribution to the CPI in the month were Transport (-0.32 pp) and Recreation & Culture (-0.13 pp).

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

• Restaurants & Hotels rose due to higher prices for hotel accommodation and an increase in the cost of alcoholic drinks and food consumed in licensed premises, restaurants, cafes etc.
• Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased primarily due to higher prices across a range of products such as meat, vegetables, and sugar, chocolate & confectionery.
• Transport fell mainly due to lower prices for airfares, diesel and petrol.
• Recreation & Culture decreased primarily due to lower prices for package holidays. This reduction was partially offset by higher prices for recording media.

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 2.4% in the year to May, while Goods increased by 0.5%. Services, excluding mortgage interest repayments, increased by 2.5% in the year since May 2024.

The CPI excluding tobacco decreased by 0.1% in the month of May and rose by 1.5% in the year. The CPI excluding mortgage interest remained unchanged in the month and increased by 1.7% 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 1.4% compared with May 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 (+4.0%), Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+3.0%), Restaurants & Hotels (+2.8%) and Health (+2.7%). There were decreases in Transport (-2.4%), Clothing & Footwear (-2.0%), Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-0.7%) and Miscellaneous Goods & Services (-0.6%).

The HICP remained unchanged in the month. This compares to an increase of 0.6% recorded in May of last year.

The most significant monthly price changes were increases in Clothing & Footwear (+1.7%) and Restaurants & Hotels (+0.9%). There were decreases in Transport (-3.0%) and Recreation & Culture (-1.5%).

National Average Price

National Average Prices for selected goods and services for May 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 5 cents in the year to May 2025, while the same size brown sliced pan also increased by 5 cents in the year.
• Spaghetti per 500g rose by 2 cents in the year, while the average price for 2.5kg of potatoes was down 25 cents.
• The national average price of full fat milk per 2 litres was up 27 cents in the year, while butter per lb rose by 1 euro 3 cents and the average price of Irish cheddar per kg increased by 57 cents.
• The national average price of a take-home 50cl can of lager at €2.41 was unchanged from May 2024, while a take-home 50cl can of cider at €2.67 was down by 1 cent.
• In May 2025, the national average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was €6.06, up 29 cents in the year, while a pint of lager was €6.48, up 31 cents compared with May 2024.