FX.co ★ Ireland Harmonised Inflation Hits 3-Year High

Ireland’s EU-harmonised consumer price inflation (HICP) rose to 4.2% year-on-year in October 2026, up from 3.8% in September. This was the highest rate since September 2023 and slightly exceeded the preliminary estimate of 4.0%. The acceleration was largely driven by stronger price increases in several categories: housing and utilities (10.9% vs 9.5%), transport (9.6% vs 7.9%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.9% vs 0.3%), alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics (4.5% vs 2.7%), clothing and footwear (4.5% vs 3.4%), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (1.2% vs 0.4%), information and communication (2.0% vs 1.5%), and personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services (3.4% vs 1.8%). On a monthly basis, harmonised consumer prices increased by 0.7% in October 2026, compared with 0.2% in September and above the preliminary estimate of a 0.5% rise, representing the largest monthly gain since March.