Consumer Prices in June, as measured by the CPI, increased by 0.5% in the month. This compares to an increase of 0.2% in June of last year. As a result, the annual rate of inflation increased to 5.0%, up from 4.7% in May 2008.
The EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) increased by 0.5% in the month, compared to an increase of 0.3% in June 2007. The annual rate of inflation, as measured by the HICP, increased from 3.7% in May to 3.9% in June.
The most notable changes in the year were increases in Education (+6.4%). There were decreases in Clothing & Footwear (-3.1%) and Furnishings (-0.9%).
Clothing and Footwear:
Clothing & Footwear prices decreased by 1.1% in the month and by 3.1% in the year to June 2008. This compares to a decrease of 3.7% for the year to June 2007. In the month, clothing prices decreased by 1.2%, while footwear prices decreased by 0.3%.
In the month, price decreases were recorded for garments (-1.3%) and shoes & other footwear (-0.3%). Price increases were recorded for dry cleaning & laundry (+0.7%), repair & hire of footwear (+0.4%) and other articles of clothing (+0.1%).
The annual rate of inflation for Services was 5.3% in June, while Goods increased by 4.6% in the year.
The most significant monthly price changes were increases in Transport (+2.1%). There were decreases in Clothing & Footwear (-1.1%).
Central Statistics Office Ireland