New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the inflation growth rate eased last month.
The CSO’s Consumer Price Index shows that prices rose by 2.8% during the 12 months to the end of December.
That compares to an annual increase of 3.2% in the year to November, while the figure is also lower than the 2.9% recorded in October.
The rate of inflation across the euro zone also eased last month, hitting the European Central Bank’s 2% target, down from 2.1% in the year to November.
The most significant increases in the 12 months to December 2025 were seen in Education, which increased by 8.9%, and Clothing and Footwear, which rose by 5.7%.
The CSO said the annual change in Education reflected a rise in costs associated with third-level education which came into effect from October 2025.
Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance was the only division to show a decline when compared with December 2024, down by 0.4%.
Today’s figures show that beef and veal prices were up by 22.4% compared to 23.9% the previous month, while the price of lamb was up by 18.9% compared to 17.9% in November.
The price of milk increased by 2.2%, down from a rise of 4.8% the previous month. Butter prices were 8.2% higher, down from 10.2% in November, while the price of chocolate was up by 12.3%.
Meanwhile, energy products were 2.4% more expensive, compared to a 3.3% rise in November, while transport inflation also fell from 2.5% in November to 0.2% last month.
The CSO also today published its National Average Prices for selected goods and services for December today.
There were price increases in the 12 months to December for Irish cheddar per kg (up 68 cent), a pound of butter (up 54 cent), 2 litres of full fat milk (up six cent), and an 800g loaf of white sliced pan (up five cent).
There were decreases in the price of a 2.5kg bag of potatoes ( down 24 cent), spaghetti per 500g (down two cent), and an 800g loaf of brown sliced pan (down a cent) when compared with December 2024.
Elsewhere last month, the national average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was €6.09, up 27 cents in the year, while a pint of lager was €6.51, up 24 cents compared with December 2024.
