CSO figures show meat, drink dearer in Dublin

New CSO figures comparing prices in Dublin with the rest of the country have found differentials in a number of goods and services.

The National Average Prices (NAPs) report for May found the price of alcohol consumed on licensed premises was consistently higher in Dublin, with all but one item showing average prices more than 7 per cent higher.

The NAPs report found the greatest difference was for a half pint of lager where average prices in Dublin were 14.5 per cent higher.

However, average prices for take-home drink were generally comparable, with less than 2 per cent of a difference between average prices for Dublin and outside Dublin for all but four items.

These items were a bottle of cream liqueur, 3.7 per cent lower in Dublin; a bottle of sherry, 3.9 per cent lower in Dublin; a can of lager, 6.3 per cent lower in Dublin; and a can of cider, 7.3 per cent lower in Dublin.

Meat prices were generally higher in Dublin - in some cases by up to 17.4 per cent for lamb loin chops - but fruit and carrots were on average cheaper in Dublin.

The remaining vegetables were more expensive in Dublin ranging from 0.4 per cent more expensive for tomatoes up to 32.7 per cent more expensive for a 10 kilogram bag of potatoes.

For a number of food items (including milk, cheese, butter, eggs, bread, flour, sugar, tea, spaghetti, preserves and orange juice) the prices in Dublin were found to be lower, ranging on average from 1.6 per cent lower for one litre of orange juice to 11.2 per cent lower for one litre of low fat milk.

Average prices for cinema entrance tickets were found to be up to 17.9 per cent higher in Dublin, and a ladies wash, cut & blow dry was also on average 11 per cent higher in Dublin.

However, average unleaded petrol prices were 0.6 per cent lower in Dublin while average diesel prices were 0.3 per cent higher in Dublin.

The data collected for the CSO's Consumer Price Index is used to compile the NAPs for 76 goods and services each month.

It is intended that this analysis will be published at six monthly intervals with the next publication in January 2005 referring to November 2004 NAPs.