Rise in Dairy Prices Highlighted by Latest CSO Report

According to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in Ireland, the national average price for a 2-liter carton of full-fat milk increased by 22 cents over the past year. In the same period, a pound of butter saw a price jump of 64 cents, and the price per kilogram of Irish cheddar rose by 80 cents.

The CSO's consumer price index (CPI) data also indicated an overall annual inflation rate of 2.9% as of October 2025, marking the highest rate since March 2024 when it was also recorded at 2.9%. Excluding energy and unprocessed food, the CPI grew by 2.8% for the same period.

While dairy products experienced notable price increases, the average price for other food items varied. For instance, the price of a striploin steak per kilogram increased from €23.51 to €28.27, whereas the price of potatoes saw a decrease of 38 cents for a 2.5kg bag.

Despite the increase in dairy prices, the CSO data highlighted that the division of furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance was the only category to experience a decline, dropping by 0.4% compared to the previous year.

The report emphasized the significant rise in the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which increased by 4.5% over the last 12 months. Education costs saw the largest increase, noted at 8.4% annually.