Consumer Prices in May, as measured by the CPI, increased by 0.8% in the month. This compares to an increase of 0.4% in May of last year. As a result, the annual rate of inflation increased to 4.7%, up from 4.3% in April 2008.
The most significant monthly price changes were increases in Education (+0.6%) and Recreation&Culture (+0.5%). There were decreases in Clothing & Footwear (-0.3%).
The most notable changes in the year were increases in Education (+6.4%). There were decreases in Clothing & Footwear (-3.7%) and Furnishings (-1.2%).
The annual rate of inflation for Services was 5.3% in May, while Goods increased by 4.0% in the year.
Clothing & Footwear:
Clothing & Footwear prices decreased by 0.3% in the month and by 3.7% in the year to May 2008. This compares to a decrease of 3.1% for the year to May 2007. In the month, clothing prices decreased by 0.4%, while footwear prices increased by 0.1%.
In the month, price decreases were recorded for garments (-0.5%) and other articles of clothing (-0.2%). Price increases were recorded for dry cleaning & laundry (+0.4%), repair & hire of footwear (+0.3%) and dress hire and repair of clothing (+0.2%).
Central Statistics Office Ireland
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