Energy prices push inflation to 3.6% this month

Annual consumer price inflation is estimated to have risen to 3.6% in the 12 months to March, the latest flash estimate of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices from the Central Statistics Office shows.

Prices rose by 1.8% since last month, the CSO added.

This compares with HICP inflation of 2.5% in Ireland in the 12 months to February 2026 and an annual increase of 1.9% in the HICP for the Eurozone in the same period.

It said energy prices are estimated to have climbed by 11.1% in the month and were up by 12.3% over the 12 months to March 2026.

According to the CSO, food prices are estimated to have decreased by 0.3% in the last month and gone up by 2.3% in the last 12 months.

The corresponding rate for the euro zone will be published tomorrow.

Statistician in the CSO Prices Division Anthony Dawson said the increases in energy prices "may have been influenced by recent events in the Middle East".

He said the prices were collected in mid-March and before the Government measures on energy costs were introduced.

Today's figures are a flash estimate for the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP).

The HICP is an index of consumer prices that has been harmonised to allow comparisons across Eurozone countries.

The March Consumer Price Index, which is the official measure of inflation for Ireland, will be published by the CSO on 9 April.