Spike in cost of some food and drink products over last year – CSO

There has been a spike in the price of some food and drink products over the last year, with the average price of butter costing an extra one euro and 10 cents compared to last year, the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show.

Food inflation rose by 4.6% since June of last year, more than double that of the general Consumer Price Index (CPI), which rose by 1.8% in the same period.

The figures show that excluding energy and unprocessed food, the CPI grew by 2% in the 12 months to June this year.

The national average price of full fat milk per two litres was up 27 cents in the year, while butter per lb rose by one euro 10 cents and the average price of Irish cheddar per kg increased by 95 cents.

The CPI for June shows that the price of a pound of butter rose by 28% to 4.83 euros from June last year to last month.

The prices of diary products experienced a sharp rise over the last 12 months, with milk, butter and cheese most affected.

The national average price for bread – a white sliced 800g pan – increased by six cents in the year to June 2025, while the same size brown sliced pan increased by five cents in the year.

Spaghetti per 500g was unchanged in the year, while the average price for 2.5kg of potatoes was down 29 cents.

The national average price of a take-home 50cl can of lager at 2.41 euros was down two cents from June 2024, while a take-home 50cl can of cider at 2.71 euros was up three cents.

In June 2025, the national average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was 6.07 euros, up 27 cents in the year, while a pint of lager was 6.49 euros, up 29 cents compared with June 2024.

Other areas affected by sharp inflation increases were recreation and culture, which spiked by 3.5%.

The divisions to record the largest declines when compared with June 2024 were clothing and footwear, which fell by 2.3%, and transport, which dropped by 2%.

Consumer prices rose by 0.5% in the month between May 2025 and June 2025.

Anthony Dawson, statistician in the Prices Division, said: “Today’s release of the CPI shows that prices for consumer goods and services in June 2025 rose by 1.8% on average when compared with June 2024.

“The most significant increases in the 12 months to June 2025 were seen in food and non-alcoholic beverages (+4.6%) and recreation and culture (+3.5%).

“The annual change in food and non-alcoholic beverages costs reflects a rise in prices across a range of products, such as beef and veal and butter.

“Clothing and footwear (-2.3%) and transport (-2.0%) were the divisions to show the largest declines when compared with June 2024.

“Consumer prices in June 2025 rose by 0.5% in the month compared with June 2024, when prices were up by 0.4% in the month.

“In June 2025, the most significant monthly price changes were in recreation and culture (+3.6%) and transport (+1.2%).

“The increase in recreation and culture was due to higher prices for package holidays.

“Clothing and footwear (-0.5%) and alcoholic beverages and tobacco (-0.4%) were the divisions to show the largest declines when compared with May 2025.”

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he wants to see “very targeted” measures for the most vulnerable people included in October’s budget.

The Fianna Fail leader said that will include people who are under most pressure from high food prices.

“We’ve had significant inflation over the last number of years, although the rate is now down to 2% overall,” he added.

“But food prices continue to be very high, and coming out of Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, energy prices that created an inflationary spike, that’s coming down, but prices are elevated.

“The message we have is that in terms of the next budget and the estimates process, like we did in previous budgets, we will continue to deliver packages that can support people in terms of the mainstream provision.

“We will look at mechanisms by which we can support people, particularly very targeted measures to deal with those who are most vulnerable and who would be under most pressure from the high increase in food prices.

“I do believe we need to target resources at the most vulnerable in respect of that issue.

“I’ve said it repeatedly that I want the next budget to have a programme that’s targeted at child poverty in particular.”