DUBLIN, Ireland: Over the previous 12 months, consumer prices have increased by three percent, driven by energy and food costs, according to the CSO.

The latest flash estimate for the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) put the annualised rate of price growth at 3.2 percent in November, up from 2.8 percent.

The HICP allows comparisons across Eurozone countries.

Food prices rose 4.2 percent in the last twelve months, while energy prices rose 3.3 percent.

However, since October this year, overall prices have fallen by 0.2 percent, while energy prices have risen 0.7 percent and food prices have remained unchanged.

Bord Gáis Energy, Pinergy, Energia and SSE Airtricity all hiked electricity prices last month. Flogas increased its electricity prices in August.

Excluding energy and unprocessed food, the HICP is estimated to have risen by three percent since November 2024.

The Irish HICP figure was included in the euro zone's overall inflation figures, published on December 2.

Meanwhile, contactless payments continued to increase as ATM usage declined. Analysis of Bank of Ireland customer behaviour during the third quarter of 2025 shows that eCommerce contactless card transactions (digital wallets, Apple Pay/Google Pay) increased six percent, whilst contactless ‘tap and go' payment levels rose four percent when compared to Q3 2024.

This is compared with the number of ATM transactions, which fell nine percent in Q3 2025 compared with the same period last year.