Articles
Food price indices in Ireland: CSO figures to September 2026
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) puts "Eggs" in Ireland up 6.2% in the year to September 2026. In the year to September 2026, "Bread and bakery products" is up 0.9%, "Cheese" is up 0.3%, "Cane sugar and beet sugar" is down 0.3% and "Butter and other oils and fats derived from milk" is down 9.3%, against 4.1% for "All Items". The eggs index stood at 112.4 in September 2026, with December 2023 set at 100, which is 12.4% higher than December 2023 by our arithmetic. These are Consumer Price Index figures for what households pay. They are not what a café pays its suppliers, and the table does not say what a café pays. The table gives no reasons for any movement, so this page gives none.
How much have egg prices gone up in Ireland?
The CSO says "Eggs" (code CP01148) was 6.2% higher in September 2026 than in September 2025. The index stood at 112.4 in September 2026, so it is up 12.4% since December 2023. That percentage is ours, worked out from the CSO index.
The CSO 12-month rate for eggs in 2026 was 5.7% in January, 5.6% in February, 5.9% in March and 6.0% in April. In 2026 it was 10.9% in May, 10.0% in June, 10.7% in July, 7.9% in August and 6.2% in September.
The eggs index of 112.4 in September 2026 is the highest month from January 2024 to September 2026, equal with August 2026, which was also 112.4. That comparison is ours, from the CSO index.
What happened to the Butter and other oils and fats derived from milk series?
The CSO 12-month rate for "Butter and other oils and fats derived from milk" (CP01152) was -9.3% in September 2026. That label covers more than butter, and we do not read it as butter alone.
The rate in 2026 was 4.5% in January and 2.0% in February. In 2026 the rate was -1.6% in March, -3.6% in April, -6.2% in May, -7.2% in June, -7.0% in July, -9.8% in August and -9.3% in September.
The index peaked at 120.0 in August 2025, the highest month from January 2024 to September 2026 (ours). It was 106.4 in September 2026, which is 6.4% above December 2023 (ours).
What about the Bread and bakery products and Cheese series?
Both are up in the year to September 2026. The CSO 12-month rate for "Bread and bakery products" (CP01113) was 0.9% in September 2026, and for "Cheese" (CP01145) it was 0.3%.
The cheese rate was -3.4% in August 2026 and 0.3% in September 2026. The September 2026 index is 105.6 for bread and bakery products and 102.6 for cheese, so they are up 5.6% and 2.6% since December 2023 (ours).
What about the Cane sugar and beet sugar series and the Jams, marmalades, fruit jellies, purées and pastes, and honey series?
Neither is up in the year to September 2026. The CSO 12-month rate for "Cane sugar and beet sugar" (CP01181) was -0.3% in September 2026. For "Jams, marmalades, fruit jellies, purées and pastes, and honey" (CP01183) the 12-month rate was 0.0% in September 2026.
The September 2026 index is 97.5 for Cane sugar and beet sugar and 97.7 for Jams, marmalades, fruit jellies, purées and pastes, and honey. In September 2026 both indices are below the December 2023 base of 100, so they are down 2.5% and 2.3% since then (ours).
Is this what a café pays?
No. These are CSO Consumer Price Index sub-indices, the prices households pay. They are not the prices a café pays its suppliers, and the CSO table does not say what a café pays. For the same caution on other items, see our page on coffee, milk and electricity prices. For the café menu side, see our page on café and restaurant prices.
Where do these numbers come from?
They come from CSO table CPM24, Consumer Price Index, a monthly series with the base December 2023 = 100. It was last updated on 8 October 2026 and runs to September 2026.
We read it on 28 October 2026 and pulled the index and the 12-month change for the seven series below, for all 45 months from January 2023 to September 2026. You can download them as a CSV. If you cite it: Cupán Studio, from CSO table CPM24, read 28 October 2026.
| CSO series | Annual change, September 2026 (CSO) | Index, September 2026, Dec 2023 = 100 (CSO) | Change since December 2023 (ours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bread and bakery products | 0.9% | 105.6 | 5.6% |
| Cheese | 0.3% | 102.6 | 2.6% |
| Eggs | 6.2% | 112.4 | 12.4% |
| Butter and other oils and fats derived from milk | -9.3% | 106.4 | 6.4% |
| Cane sugar and beet sugar | -0.3% | 97.5 | -2.5% |
| Jams, marmalades, fruit jellies, purées and pastes, and honey | 0.0% | 97.7 | -2.3% |
| All Items | 4.1% | 107.6 | 7.6% |
Sources
- Central Statistics Office, CPM24 Consumer Price Index, updated 8 October 2026, read 28 October 2026.
Figures from CSO table CPM24, read 28 October 2026; changes since December 2023 are ours. These are consumer prices, not trade prices. A summary of published statistics, not financial advice. Cupán Studio builds websites for cafés in Ireland.
One coffee or café fact a day, drawn. That is what we post on Instagram. @cupanstudio
Can an AI assistant read your café's hours and menu? Paste your address into our free check and see in a few seconds. Nothing is stored.