New figures show that the cost of fish, meat, milk, butter and cheese have surged in the last year.
Cod fillets are now almost €5 more expensive per kilogram (kg) than they were a year ago.
Food prices are surging almost three times faster than general inflation, according to July inflation figures from the Central Statistics Office.
The latest food inflation figures come as the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission found no evidence of price gouging by supermarkets in the Irish market.
Cod fillets now cost €25.26 per kg. This is up by €4.89 in the past year. In percentage terms it is a rise of 24pc.
Diced beef prices have jumped by a similar percentage.
This meat product now costs €13.39 per kg, a rise of €2.62 when compared with the price in supermarkets and butchers a year ago, the CSO figures show.
Butter is now €1.08 a pound more expensive than last year.
CSO statisticians found that a pound of butter is now €4.87, fast approaching the psychologically important €5 mark.
Milk is also up in price, as farm gate prices have surged in the last year.
Two litres of full-fat milk now costs €2.47, a rise of 28c since July last year. This is a 13pc rise.
Cheddar cheese has shot up by 24pc in cost.
Buying a kilogram of cheddar now costs €11.19, a rise of 70c per kg.
Overall inflation was recorded at 1.7pc for July, down from 1.8pc in July.
But food and non-alcoholic beverages was up by 4.7pc over the 12-month period, putting massive pressure on family budgets.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages was the division to record the largest increase in the 12 months to July, the CSO said.
Health insurance costs were up by 9pc in the year, as all four health insurers have pushed up premiums.
The three largest insurers – VHI, Laya and Irish Life – had announced multiple price rises in the last year.
Motor insurance costs are up for the 23th month in a row, with a rise of 6.5pc.
Home insurance increases have eased off, with this up by 3.3pc in July.
CSO statistician Anthony Dawson said: “There were price increases in the 12 months to July 2025 for a pound of butter (+€1.08), Irish cheddar per kg (+70c), two litres of full fat milk (+28c), an 800g loaf of white sliced pan (+5c), and an 800g loaf of brown sliced pan (+3c). There were decreases in the price of a 2.5kg bag of potatoes (-33c) and spaghetti per 500g (-4c) when compared with July 2024.”
For the month of July, consumer prices rose by 0.1pc.
The divisions with the largest growth in the month were recreation and culture at plus-1.8pc, and transport at plus-1.1pc.
The division with the largest declines in the month were clothing and footwear
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