It comes as households face into likely future steep increases in the cost of energy as a result of geopolitical uncertainty.
Overall prices of goods and services rose by 2.7pc in the year to February, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
This was the same level of year-on-year inflation that was recorded in January this year.
However, food prices are rising in price faster.
And the price of a pint of stout in a pub was up 25c to €6.18 across the country in February.
Lager costs €6.58 on average in pubs, up 26c compared with the price last year after drinks companies pushed through more price rises.
Food inflation was 3.4pc in the year to last month.
The cost of meat, cheese, butter and bread have continued to shoot up.
However, there were decreases in the prices of potatoes and milk when compared with last year, the CSO said.
The cost of sirloin steak per kilogram was up by €4.37 in the year. This takes the cost of a kilogram to €21.76.
Irish cheddar per kg cost 30c more than a year ago, with the price recorded by the CSO at €11.44 per kg.
A pound of butter was 3c dearer at €4.46. This price includes branded and supermarket own-brand butters
An 800g loaf of white sliced pan was also up 3c, taking the price to €1.67.
An 800g loaf of brown sliced pan was up in price by 1c.
Statistician with the CSO Anthony Dawson said: “There were decreases in the price of a 2.5kg bag of potatoes (-20c) and 2 litres of full fat milk (-2c) when compared with February 2025.”
Two litres of full fat milk now costs €2.42 across the State on average, the CSO said.
The national average price of a take-home 50cl can of lager at €2.41 was down 1c from February last year, while a take-home 50cl can of cider at €2.71 was up 2c.
In February, the national average price of a pint of stout in licensed premises was €6.18, up 25c in the year, while a pint of lager was €6.58, up 26c compared with February 2025.
When it comes to the overall rate of inflation, the divisions with the largest increases in the 12 months to February were education services, which rose by 8.9pc.
This follows the effective increase in the student contribution fee this year.
The Government has reduced the student contribution fee by €500 this year. But last year it had been lowered by €1,000. The change came into effect in October.
Insurance and financial services were up by 6pc, largely due to premium rate increases from VHI Healthcare, Laya Healthcare, Irish Life Healthcare and Level Health.
Consumer prices rose by 0.9pc in the month between January and February this year.
A separate release from the CSO shows that the prices paid to farmers rose by 0.9pc in the month of January. But in the year to January agricultural output price were down by 6.6pc, the CSO said.
The most significant output price reductions in the 12 months to January 2026 were in milk, sheep. and pigs. However, there cattle and poultry prices were up.
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