Headline inflation in the Irish economy moderated to less than 3 per cent in December. Euro zone inflation was clocked at 2.1 per cent in November. Grocery price inflation is a key pressure point for households and has also led to an acceleration in restraurant costs. But food price inflation, a reflection of higher farming costs, has pushed the headline rate up again. With headline inflation for the euro zone hovering at 2 per cent, the European Central Bank’s (ECB) target rate, Frankfurt has halted a series of interest rate reductions.

Source: The Irish Times January 06, 2026 13:58 UTC