Ireland's headline annual inflation rate moderated to 3.6% in May from a 3.7% reading in April, according to data released by the Central Statistics Office on Thursday. The April figure had represented a two-year high for Irish inflation.
Measured month to month, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell by 0.1% in May, reversing the 0.5% increase recorded in April. That monthly retreat contrasts with the prior month's upward movement and indicates short-term volatility in the monthly CPI series.
By category, education services showed the largest annual increase, rising 8.9% year-on-year. Prices for clothing and footwear also recorded a notable annual gain, up 7.4% compared with the same month a year earlier. Those sector-specific movements stand out among the components reported by the statistics office.
The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) - the measure designed to allow comparisons across European Union member states - increased 3.5% on an annual basis in May, down from 3.6% in April. On a monthly basis the HICP decreased 0.2% in May, after a 0.5% monthly rise in the previous month.
These figures show a slight easing in headline annual inflation and a small monthly decline in both the CPI and the HICP, while certain service and goods categories continue to record stronger year-on-year price gains. The data provide a snapshot of recent movement in consumer prices as compiled by the Central Statistics Office.
Key details at a glance
- Annual CPI: 3.6% in May, down from 3.7% in April.
- Monthly CPI: -0.1% in May, reversing April's +0.5%.
- Largest annual increases by category: education services +8.9%, clothing and footwear +7.4%.
- HICP (EU-comparable): +3.5% year-on-year, -0.2% month-on-month in May.
Where the data are limited, the statistics release itself is the sole source for the numbers and category breakdowns cited here. No additional information beyond the published figures has been introduced.