Grocery Costs Ireland: 18 Everyday Items Now €7.91 More (2022-2026)
- Irish consumers are facing continued pressure on household budgets as grocery inflation persists, with prices rising 6.82% in the 12 weeks to January 25, 2026.
- The escalating cost of living is forcing Irish shoppers to make difficult choices, with a growing preference for store-brand products.
- A recent comparison by the Irish Mirror illustrates the extent of price increases over the past four years.
Irish Grocery Costs Continue to Climb, Shoppers Turn to Own-Brand Products
Irish consumers are facing continued pressure on household budgets as grocery inflation persists, with prices rising 6.82% in the 12 weeks to January 25, . Despite a 5% increase in grocery sales during the four weeks to the same date, shoppers are purchasing fewer items – a decrease of 1.9% – suggesting a shift towards prioritizing essential goods and seeking value, according to data from Worldpanel by Numerator.
The escalating cost of living is forcing Irish shoppers to make difficult choices, with a growing preference for store-brand products. Own-label goods now account for 43.4% of total grocery spending, an increase of 0.7% compared to the previous month. Consumers spent over €1.7 billion on these products during the 12-week period, demonstrating a clear trend towards cost-conscious purchasing.
A recent comparison by the Irish Mirror illustrates the extent of price increases over the past four years. An analysis of 18 everyday items purchased at Dunnes Stores in versus revealed a total price increase of €7.91. This represents a significant strain on household finances, particularly for those with limited disposable income.
The basket of goods examined included staples such as baked beans, chopped tomatoes, rice, pasta, milk, butter, potatoes, ham, eggs, carrots, mushrooms, bread, apples, onions, and tea bags. While some items remained stable in price, many experienced substantial increases. For example, the price of basmati rice rose from €1.00 to €1.59, a 59% increase. Penne pasta saw a more dramatic jump, increasing from €1.15 to €2.45 – a rise of over 113%.
Butter prices have also increased significantly, climbing from €2.35 for a 454g package in to €3.39 in , representing a 44% increase. Milk prices also rose, increasing from €1.69 for 2 liters to €2.35, a 39% increase. Eggs saw a price increase of €1.14, rising from €2.85 to €3.99.
Interestingly, the price of ham (200g) actually decreased slightly, falling from €2.79 to €2.50. However, this decrease was offset by increases in the prices of other essential items.
The market share data indicates a competitive grocery landscape in Ireland. Dunnes Stores currently leads with a 24.8% market share, closely followed by Tesco at 24.4%. SuperValu holds 19.4%, while Lidl and Aldi account for 13.2% and 10.4% respectively. This competitive environment may be contributing to the focus on own-label products, as retailers seek to offer more affordable options to attract and retain customers.
Recent data suggests that while grocery inflation hasn’t reached the peak of 17% seen in the summer of , it is still at a concerning level, nearing the 7.1% recorded in January . This indicates that the upward pressure on grocery prices is likely to continue in the near term.
According to Worldpanel’s business development manager, Emer Healy, the data suggests Irish consumers are being careful not to overspend as price increases begin to hit once more. “January is typically the time when shoppers reset their household budgets, and this year was no different,” she stated. “While grocery sales continued to grow, rising inflation meant that value remained front of mind for consumers.”
A separate study, reported by RTÉ in , highlighted a 36% increase in the cost of a shopping basket over four years, from €53.70 in to €71.73 in . The most significant increase was observed in the price of red peppers, which more than doubled, rising from €0.39 to €0.89. This demonstrates the volatility of prices for certain produce items, potentially influenced by seasonal availability and supply chain factors.
The continued rise in grocery prices underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Irish households. The shift towards own-label products and the reduction in the number of items purchased per shopping trip are clear indicators of consumers adapting to the new economic reality. The situation warrants close monitoring, as sustained inflation in the grocery sector could have broader implications for the Irish economy.