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Non-alcoholic beverage price indices in Ireland: CSO figures to September 2026
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) puts "Non-alcoholic beverages" in Ireland up 0.4% in the year to September 2026, against 4.1% for "All Items". In the year to September 2026, "Soft drinks" is up 2.1%, "Cocoa drinks" is up 2.1%, "Fruit and vegetable juices" is down 0.1% and "Water" is down 3.0%. The "Non-alcoholic beverages" index stood at 107.9 in September 2026, with December 2023 set at 100, which is 7.9% higher than December 2023 by our arithmetic. These are CSO Consumer Price Index series. They are not what a café pays its suppliers or charges its customers. The CSO table (CPM24) gives no reasons for any movement, so this page gives none.
How much did the "Non-alcoholic beverages" index change in the year to September 2026?
The CSO says "Non-alcoholic beverages" (code CP012) was 0.4% higher in September 2026 than in September 2025. The index stood at 107.9 in September 2026, so it is up 7.9% since December 2023 (ours). That percentage is ours, worked out from the CSO index.
The CSO 12-month rate for "Non-alcoholic beverages" in 2026 was 4.6% in January, 3.0% in February, 2.4% in March, 2.5% in April, 2.3% in May and 2.1% in June. In 2026 it was 0.7% in July, 0.6% in August and 0.4% in September.
The September 2026 rate of 0.4% is the lowest 12-month rate in any month from January 2024 to September 2026. That comparison is ours, from the CSO figures.
What about "Soft drinks" and "Fruit and vegetable juices"?
In the year to September 2026, "Soft drinks" (CP0126) is up and "Fruit and vegetable juices" (CP0121) is down. The CSO 12-month rate for "Soft drinks" was 2.1% in September 2026, and for "Fruit and vegetable juices" it was -0.1% in September 2026.
The CSO 12-month rate for "Soft drinks" in 2026 was 3.5% in January, 2.3% in February, 4.5% in March, 2.9% in April, 4.6% in May and 2.9% in June. In 2026 it was 2.9% in July, 1.2% in August and 2.1% in September. The highest 12-month rate in any month from January 2024 to September 2026 was 10.3% in February 2024 (ours).
The "Fruit and vegetable juices" rate was -0.6% in July 2026, -1.5% in August 2026 and -0.1% in September 2026. The highest 12-month rate in any month from January 2024 to September 2026 was 11.0% in February 2024 (ours).
What about "Water" and "Cocoa drinks"?
In the year to September 2026, "Water" (CP0125) is down and "Cocoa drinks" (CP0124) is up. The CSO 12-month rate for "Water" was -3.0% in September 2026, and for "Cocoa drinks" it was 2.1% in September 2026.
The CSO 12-month rate for "Water" in 2026 was 1.8% in January, -1.2% in February, -4.1% in March, -0.5% in April, -2.5% in May and 0.3% in June. In 2026 it was -2.4% in July, 0.0% in August and -3.0% in September.
The "Cocoa drinks" rate was 1.0% in August 2026 and 2.1% in September 2026. The highest 12-month rate in any month from January 2024 to September 2026 was 11.2% in January 2024 (ours).
How far have these indices moved since December 2023?
All six are above the December 2023 base of 100 in September 2026. The September 2026 index is 107.9 for "Non-alcoholic beverages", 107.3 for "Fruit and vegetable juices", 115.3 for "Cocoa drinks", 106.0 for "Water", 110.1 for "Soft drinks" and 107.6 for "All Items".
So in September 2026 they are up 7.9%, 7.3%, 15.3%, 6.0%, 10.1% and 7.6% since December 2023 (ours, from the CSO index). A series can be down on a year earlier and still sit above its December 2023 level, as "Water" does in September 2026.
Is this what a café pays or charges?
No. These are CSO Consumer Price Index series. They are not the prices a café pays its suppliers or charges its customers, and the CSO table does not say what a café pays or charges. Coffee and tea are in our page on coffee, milk and electricity prices. Bread, dairy, eggs and sugar are in our page on food price indices.
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 31 October 2026 and pulled the index and the 12-month change for the six 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 31 October 2026.
| CSO series | 12-month change, September 2026 (CSO) | Index, September 2026, Dec 2023 = 100 (CSO) | Change since December 2023 (ours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-alcoholic beverages | 0.4% | 107.9 | 7.9% |
| Fruit and vegetable juices | -0.1% | 107.3 | 7.3% |
| Cocoa drinks | 2.1% | 115.3 | 15.3% |
| Water | -3.0% | 106.0 | 6.0% |
| Soft drinks | 2.1% | 110.1 | 10.1% |
| All Items | 4.1% | 107.6 | 7.6% |
Sources
- Central Statistics Office, CPM24 Consumer Price Index, updated 8 October 2026, read 31 October 2026.
Figures from CSO table CPM24, read 31 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.
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