The Central Statistical Office says the Index for Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages decreased from 147.5 in July 2023 to 147.0 in August 2023, reflecting a decrease of 0.3%.
Contributing significantly to this decrease was the general downward movement in the prices of tomatoes, white flour, parboiled rice, melongene, ochroes, soya bean oil, other chilled or frozen chicken, celery, cheddar cheese and eddoes.
However, the full impact of these price decreases was offset by the general increases in the prices of chilled or frozen beef, fresh beef, chilled or frozen pork, whole chicken-fresh, Irish potatoes, whole chicken-frozen, plantains, green pigeon peas, steak-fresh and garlic.
A further review of the data for August 2023 compared with July 2023 reflected an increase in the sub-index for Health of 0.2%.
Also, this period showed a decrease in the sub-index for Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of 0.2% and Clothing and Footwear or 0.1%.