CSO Frontier Series outputs may use new methods which are under development and/or data sources which may be incomplete, for example new administrative data sources. Particular care must be taken when interpreting the statistics in this release.
In September 2026, the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate of inflation was 4.1%. New analysis by the CSO estimates that some higher-income households experienced a lower rate of inflation of 4.0%, while it was 4.2% for households with the lowest incomes.
Households headed by a person aged under 35 years had an estimated inflation rate of 4.4%, the highest of all the categories examined. When the household reference person was aged 35 to 64 it was estimated at 4.1%, and at 3.9% for those aged 65 or over.
Households renting had an estimated annual inflation rate of 4.3% compared with a rate of 4.1% for households paying a mortgage, while it was 3.7% for households that owned their home outright.
The annual inflation rate for urban households was 4.0%, while estimated inflation for rural households stood at 4.2%.
Households with children had a lower estimated inflation rate of 3.9% compared with households without children at 4.2%.
Households with only one adult had a higher estimated inflation rate of 4.3% than households with two adults (4.1%) and or those with three or more adults (4.0%).
The main drivers of inflation in the 12 months to September 2026 for lower income households were Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels, followed by Rent and Transport costs. For higher earners, it was Transport and Restaurants & Accommodation Services costs, which includes hotels, bar sales, and takeaway food and coffees.
In the five years between September 2021 and September 2026, the index for Mortgage Interest Payments rose by 96.3%, prices for Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels were 63.7% higher, and the index for Rent was up 36.1%.
In the 12 months to September 2026, household groups which were estimated to have experienced inflation at a higher rate than the official measure of inflation of 4.1% included:
Please refer to Table 2 and Figure 3.
Transport, Restaurants & Accommodation Services, and Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels were the largest drivers of inflation in the 12 months to September 2026 (Refer to Table 4). Restaurants & Accommodation Services includes hotels, bar sales, and takeaway food and coffees.
Transport price changes were responsible for almost one-fifth of the annual change in the CPI (0.8 percentage points of the 4.1% annual increase) while Restaurants & Accommodation Services and Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels both contributed another sixth each of the change (both 0.7 percentage points). Looking at household breakdowns:
In the tables and commentary, the following periods are distinguished:
In the five years from September 2021 to September 2026, the CPI rose by 24.0%, with just over one-sixth of this change being concentrated in the final 12 months. Between September 2021 and September 2025 (four years), the CPI increased by 19.1% while in the 12 months from September 2022 to September 2026, the CPI rose by 4.1% (Refer to Table 1).
Further details for selected CPI subindices are also shown in Table 1 and Figure 1.
| Table 1 Change in All Items CPI and selected subindices, September 2021 to September 2026 (5 years), September 2021 to September 2025 (4 years) and September 2025 to September 2026 (1 year) | |||||||||
| 01. Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages | 02. Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco | 04.1 Rent | 04.2 Mortgage Interest Payments | 04.5 Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels | 07. Transport | 11. Restaurants & Accommodation Services | CPI All Items | ||
| September-2021 to September-2026 (5 years) | 26.8 | 22.5 | 36.1 | 96.3 | 63.7 | 21.5 | 28.3 | 24.0 | |
| September-2021 to September-2025 (4 years) | 26.3 | 19.4 | 28.0 | 78.1 | 43.9 | 13.0 | 23.9 | 19.1 | |
| September-2025 to September-2026 (1 year) | 0.4 | 2.6 | 6.3 | 10.2 | 13.7 | 7.5 | 3.5 | 4.1 | |
| CPI All Items | 01. Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages | 02. Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco | 04.1 Rent | 04.2 Mortgage Interest Payments | 04.5 Electricity, Gas & other Fuels | 07. Transport | 11. Restaurants & Accommodation Services | |
| 2021 September | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2021 October | 100.7 | 100.4 | 99.3 | 100.8 | 100.3 | 105.9 | 102.1 | 99.8 |
| 2021 November | 101.3 | 100.5 | 98.7 | 101.2 | 100.5 | 109.1 | 103.5 | 99.5 |
| 2021 December | 101.8 | 101 | 96.5 | 101.9 | 101 | 109.3 | 106.4 | 99.9 |
| 2022 January | 101.4 | 101 | 106.2 | 102.3 | 101.5 | 110.5 | 102.5 | 99.7 |
| 2022 February | 102.3 | 101.8 | 104.9 | 103.1 | 102 | 113.1 | 104.7 | 100.2 |
| 2022 March | 104.3 | 102.7 | 104.8 | 103.9 | 102.2 | 130.6 | 110 | 102.1 |
| 2022 April | 105.2 | 103.6 | 104.1 | 105.1 | 102.7 | 131.2 | 111.9 | 103.8 |
| 2022 May | 106.2 | 104.3 | 106.3 | 106.4 | 102.9 | 144 | 110.1 | 104.9 |
| 2022 June | 107.6 | 106.8 | 106.5 | 107.1 | 103.4 | 147.4 | 115.5 | 106.2 |
| 2022 July | 108.1 | 108.3 | 106.7 | 108.2 | 103.5 | 145.7 | 117.7 | 107.5 |
| 2022 August | 108.2 | 109.1 | 107 | 109.5 | 104.9 | 146.7 | 115.3 | 107.8 |
| 2022 September | 108.3 | 109.8 | 107.2 | 110 | 107.6 | 149.6 | 111.2 | 107.5 |
| 2022 October | 110 | 111 | 108.1 | 110.4 | 115.3 | 182.7 | 111.4 | 107.1 |
| 2022 November | 110.4 | 111.7 | 107.6 | 110.9 | 121.5 | 181 | 111.7 | 107.1 |
| 2022 December | 110.1 | 112.9 | 107 | 111.5 | 123.2 | 175.9 | 108.8 | 107.8 |
| 2023 January | 109.2 | 113.7 | 109.6 | 111.7 | 128.8 | 176.2 | 105.7 | 106.9 |
| 2023 February | 111.1 | 115.1 | 110.1 | 112.7 | 134.3 | 174.5 | 108.2 | 109 |
| 2023 March | 112.2 | 116.2 | 110 | 113.3 | 138 | 173.3 | 110.3 | 111 |
| 2023 April | 112.8 | 117.2 | 110.5 | 113.5 | 144.8 | 171.6 | 109.4 | 112.1 |
| 2023 May | 113.2 | 117.5 | 111.7 | 114.1 | 148.3 | 167.2 | 108.2 | 113.9 |
| 2023 June | 114.2 | 117.6 | 111.4 | 114.7 | 151.2 | 167.9 | 110.9 | 114.9 |
| 2023 July | 114.4 | 117.9 | 111.5 | 115.3 | 154.7 | 167.5 | 112.4 | 115.3 |
| 2023 August | 115.1 | 118 | 111.5 | 116.6 | 158.6 | 171.6 | 113 | 115.6 |
| 2023 September | 115.2 | 118.4 | 111.9 | 117.7 | 160.8 | 173.4 | 111.9 | 115.9 |
| 2023 October | 115.6 | 118.7 | 112.6 | 117.7 | 163.5 | 170.2 | 113.2 | 115.4 |
| 2023 November | 114.6 | 119.2 | 112.7 | 117.8 | 166.7 | 156.3 | 111.7 | 114.6 |
| 2023 December | 115.2 | 119.2 | 112.1 | 118.6 | 168.4 | 154.6 | 112.5 | 114.9 |
| 2024 January | 113.7 | 119 | 114.8 | 118.7 | 169.7 | 153.9 | 107.9 | 114.5 |
| 2024 February | 114.9 | 119.8 | 114 | 119.1 | 171.5 | 153.6 | 111.1 | 116 |
| 2024 March | 115.4 | 119.7 | 113.5 | 119.5 | 172.9 | 145.4 | 114.4 | 117.1 |
| 2024 April | 115.7 | 120.4 | 115.7 | 119.6 | 174.9 | 145 | 113.8 | 117.6 |
| 2024 May | 116.2 | 120.6 | 115.6 | 119.9 | 175.8 | 144.5 | 115.4 | 119.3 |
| 2024 June | 116.7 | 120.4 | 115.2 | 121 | 177.1 | 143.9 | 116.3 | 120.1 |
| 2024 July | 116.9 | 120.4 | 115.4 | 121.2 | 177.1 | 143.7 | 118.6 | 120.3 |
| 2024 August | 117.1 | 120.4 | 115.7 | 121.9 | 177.9 | 143 | 117.7 | 120.9 |
| 2024 September | 116 | 120.6 | 115.4 | 123.1 | 179 | 141.9 | 111.6 | 120.3 |
| 2024 October | 116.4 | 121.2 | 118 | 123.6 | 176.9 | 143.9 | 110.8 | 119.7 |
| 2024 November | 115.8 | 121.5 | 116.6 | 124.1 | 175.3 | 142.7 | 109.8 | 119 |
| 2024 December | 116.8 | 121.6 | 115.6 | 124.9 | 176.3 | 142.8 | 114.3 | 119.2 |
| 2025 January | 115.9 | 122.1 | 119.2 | 125 | 176.3 | 143.9 | 112 | 119 |
| 2025 February | 116.9 | 122.8 | 118.3 | 125.3 | 175.6 | 144 | 113.8 | 119.5 |
| 2025 March | 117.7 | 123.6 | 118.3 | 125.7 | 176.6 | 143.1 | 116.1 | 120.9 |
| 2025 April | 118.2 | 124.4 | 118.3 | 126 | 175.9 | 143.9 | 115.9 | 121.5 |
| 2025 May | 118.2 | 125.4 | 119.2 | 126.3 | 175.4 | 143.3 | 112.7 | 122.6 |
| 2025 June | 118.8 | 125.9 | 118.7 | 126.8 | 176.3 | 143.1 | 113.9 | 123 |
| 2025 July | 118.9 | 126 | 118.8 | 126.9 | 176.1 | 144.7 | 115.2 | 123.6 |
| 2025 August | 119.4 | 126.6 | 119.4 | 127.4 | 176.6 | 144.2 | 115 | 124 |
| 2025 September | 119.1 | 126.3 | 119.4 | 128 | 178.1 | 143.9 | 113 | 123.9 |
| 2025 October | 119.7 | 126.7 | 120.4 | 128.1 | 179.6 | 147.1 | 112.7 | 123.6 |
| 2025 November | 119.5 | 126.7 | 119.5 | 128.5 | 181.1 | 147.6 | 112.7 | 123.2 |
| 2025 December | 120 | 126.6 | 118.6 | 129.1 | 182.2 | 147 | 114.6 | 123.4 |
| 2026 January | 119 | 126.8 | 121.9 | 129.2 | 183.7 | 146.4 | 111.9 | 122.9 |
| 2026 February | 120 | 126.8 | 121.3 | 129.3 | 184.7 | 146.7 | 113.5 | 123.9 |
| 2026 March | 122 | 126.5 | 121 | 130.4 | 185.7 | 161.5 | 119.3 | 125.2 |
| 2026 April | 122.6 | 126.9 | 121.4 | 131.4 | 187.9 | 164.1 | 120.2 | 126.2 |
| 2026 May | 122.5 | 127.1 | 122.1 | 131.8 | 188.9 | 158.1 | 119.6 | 127.1 |
| 2026 June | 122.8 | 126.6 | 121.9 | 134.2 | 189.9 | 156.4 | 118.7 | 127.5 |
| 2026 July | 122.9 | 126.8 | 121.9 | 134.4 | 193.8 | 158.3 | 117.7 | 128 |
| 2026 August | 123.7 | 126.7 | 122.2 | 134.4 | 194.6 | 161.4 | 121.1 | 128.3 |
| 2026 September | 124 | 126.8 | 122.5 | 136.1 | 196.3 | 163.7 | 121.5 | 128.3 |
Figure 2 shows the difference from the overall CPI increase of 24.0% for different household groups for the five years from September 2021 to September 2026. Results ranged from 22.7% for households who owned their home outright to 25.5% for households that were renting their home.
| Indices | Estimated difference |
|---|---|
| 1st (Lowest) Income Quartile | 1.1 |
| 2nd Income Quartile | 0 |
| 3rd Income Quartile | -0.4 |
| 4th (Highest) Income Quartile | -0.2 |
| Owned Outright | -2.3 |
| Owned with Mortgage | 1.5 |
| Rented | 0.7 |
| Urban | 0.1 |
| Rural | -0.4 |
| Under 35 years | 0.8 |
| 35 to 64 years | 0 |
| 65 years or over | -0.8 |
| No children | 0.2 |
| Children | -0.4 |
| 1 adult | 1 |
| 2 adults | 0 |
| More than 2 adults | -0.6 |
Figure 3 shows the difference from the overall CPI increase of 4.1% for different household groups in the 12 months from September 2025 to September 2026. Results ranged from 3.7% for households who owned their home outright up to 4.4% for households where the household reference person was aged under 35 years.
| Indices | Estimated difference |
|---|---|
| 1st (Lowest) Income Quartile | 0.1 |
| 2nd Income Quartile | 0.1 |
| 3rd Income Quartile | -0.1 |
| 4th (Highest) Income Quartile | 0 |
| Owned Outright | -0.4 |
| Owned with Mortgage | 0 |
| Rented | 0.2 |
| Urban | -0.1 |
| Rural | 0.1 |
| Under 35 years | 0.3 |
| 35 to 64 years | 0 |
| 65 years or over | -0.2 |
| No children | 0.1 |
| Children | -0.2 |
| 1 adult | 0.2 |
| 2 adults | 0 |
| More than 2 adults | -0.1 |
| Table 2 Estimated Difference from CPI Inflation by Household Characteristics | |||||
| Type of Household | September 2021 to September 2026 (5 years) | September 2025 to September 2026 (1 year) | |||
| Inflation (%) | Difference (%) from overall inflation | Inflation (%) | Difference (%) from overall inflation | ||
| All Households | 24.0 | 0.0 | 4.1 | 0.0 | |
| Income | |||||
| 1st (Lowest) Income Quartile | 25.1 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 0.1 | |
| 2nd Income Quartile | 24.0 | 0.0 | 4.2 | 0.1 | |
| 3rd Income Quartile | 23.6 | -0.4 | 4.0 | -0.1 | |
| 4th (Highest) Income Quartile | 23.8 | -0.2 | 4.1 | 0.0 | |
| Household Tenure | |||||
| Owned Outright | 21.7 | -2.3 | 3.7 | -0.4 | |
| Owned with Mortgage | 25.5 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 0.0 | |
| Rented | 24.7 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 0.2 | |
| Household Location | |||||
| Urban | 24.1 | 0.1 | 4.0 | -0.1 | |
| Rural | 23.6 | -0.4 | 4.2 | 0.1 | |
| Age of Household Reference Person | |||||
| Under 35 years | 24.8 | 0.8 | 4.4 | 0.3 | |
| 35 to 64 years | 24.0 | 0.0 | 4.1 | 0.0 | |
| 65 years or over | 23.2 | -0.8 | 3.9 | -0.2 | |
| With/without Children | |||||
| No children | 24.2 | 0.2 | 4.2 | 0.1 | |
| Children | 23.6 | -0.4 | 3.9 | -0.2 | |
| Number of Adults in Household | |||||
| 1 adult | 25.0 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 0.2 | |
| 2 adults | 24.0 | 0.0 | 4.1 | 0.0 | |
| More than 2 adults | 23.4 | -0.6 | 4.0 | -0.1 | |
| Table 3 Contributions to Estimated Inflation by Household Characteristics, September 2021 to September 2026 (5 years) | % | ||||||||||
| Type of Household | 01. Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages | 02. Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco | 04.1 Rent | 04.2 Mortgage Interest Payments | 04.5 Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels | 07. Transport | 11. Restaurants & Accommodation Services | Other | Total | ||
| All Households | 2.9 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 24.0 | ||
| Income | |||||||||||
| 1st (Lowest) Income Quartile | 3.7 | 2.0 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 25.1 | ||
| 2nd Income Quartile | 3.4 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 24.0 | ||
| 3rd Income Quartile | 2.8 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 23.6 | ||
| 4th (Highest) Income Quartile | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 6.1 | 4.3 | 23.8 | ||
| Household Tenure | |||||||||||
| Owned Outright | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 5.6 | 5.0 | 21.7 | ||
| Owned with Mortgage | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 6.5 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 25.5 | ||
| Rented | 2.9 | 1.6 | 8.9 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 24.7 | ||
| Household Location | |||||||||||
| Urban | 2.7 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 24.1 | ||
| Rural | 3.3 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 23.6 | ||
| Age of Household Reference Person | |||||||||||
| Under 35 years | 2.6 | 1.3 | 6.3 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 3.3 | 24.8 | ||
| 35 to 64 years | 2.9 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 24.0 | ||
| 65 years or over | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 23.2 | ||
| With/without Children | |||||||||||
| No children | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 24.2 | ||
| Children | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 23.6 | ||
| Number of Adults in Household | |||||||||||
| 1 adult | 2.6 | 1.4 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 25.0 | ||
| 2 adults | 2.9 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 24.0 | ||
| More than 2 adults | 3.0 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 23.4 | ||
| Table 4 Contributions to Estimated Inflation by Household Characteristics, September 2025 to September 2026 (1 year) | % | ||||||||||
| Type of Household | 01. Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages | 02. Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco | 04.1 Rent | 04.2 Mortgage Interest Payments | 04.5 Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels | 07. Transport | 11. Restaurants & Accommodation Services | Other | Total | ||
| All Households | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 4.1 | ||
| Income | |||||||||||
| 1st (Lowest) Income Quartile | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 4.2 | ||
| 2nd Income Quartile | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 4.2 | ||
| 3rd Income Quartile | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 4.0 | ||
| 4th (Highest) Income Quartile | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 4.1 | ||
| Household Tenure | |||||||||||
| Owned Outright | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 3.7 | ||
| Owned with Mortgage | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 4.1 | ||
| Rented | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 | ||
| Household Location | |||||||||||
| Urban | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 4.0 | ||
| Rural | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 4.2 | ||
| Age of Household Reference Person | |||||||||||
| Under 35 years | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 4.4 | ||
| 35 to 64 years | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 4.1 | ||
| 65 years or over | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 3.9 | ||
| With/without Children | |||||||||||
| No children | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 4.2 | ||
| Children | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 3.9 | ||
| Number of Adults in Household | |||||||||||
| 1 adult | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 4.3 | ||
| 2 adults | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 4.1 | ||
| More than 2 adults | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 4.0 | ||
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (27 October 2026) published Estimates of Inflation by Household Characteristics for September 2026.
This is the seventh in a series of research papers and releases where the CSO estimates how the inflation rate affects different types of households in Ireland depending on age, household composition, income, and other characteristics. See Background Notes for more information.
This release is a Frontier Series output which means care must be taken when interpreting these results as methodologies may change and data sources may be incomplete.
Commenting on this CSO Frontier Series release, Edel Flannery, Senior Statistician in the Prices Division, said: “The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of average inflation for all private households in Ireland. The official rate of inflation in the 12 months to September 2026 was 4.1%. However, each household has its own unique consumption pattern of goods and services and therefore its own personal experience of inflation. This release attempts to take account of those differences between households and provides an estimated breakdown of the CPI results by household characteristics up to September 2026. The price of fuel in particular has had an upward impact on inflation in the last 12 months, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East as well as other energy costs. This analysis builds on a series of Research Papers and statistical releases on this topic previously published by the CSO.
The estimates in this release have been calculated by combining the CPI results from June 2026 with more detailed expenditure data from the 2022 to 2023 Household Budget Survey. Estimates of inflation are classified by household income, housing tenure, age of the household reference person, whether the household is in an urban or rural setting, and composition of the household; children in household (yes or no) and number of adults in the household.”