Seán McCárthaighIreland was among the most expensive countries in the EU for household expenditure on goods and services last year with prices 46 per cent above the EU average. With regard to alcohol and tobacco, the Republic had the most expensive prices in the EU, coming in at more than double the EU average. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products in Ireland were 116 per cent higher than average EU prices and 3.3 times more expensive than the cheapest EU country, Bulgaria. The report also revealed that Ireland was the fourth most expensive country in the EU for food and non-alcoholic beverages in 2022, with prices 15 per cent above the EU average. Similarly, the cost of household appliances in Ireland is relatively cheap, just 6.5 per cent above the EU average, and consumer electronics are 6 per cent above the EU average.

Source: The Herald June 21, 2023 16:40 UTC