THE LATEST EU consumer goods and services pricing survey has found that Ireland was the fifth most expensive member state last year- but we came out on top for the most expensive alcoholic drinks and tobacco.
Ireland’s alcohol and tobacco prices came out at 163 per cent of the EU average, while prices in this category were cheapest in Hungary (at 63 per cent of the average).
The highest prices for consumer goods and services were recorded in Denmark with a whopping 142 per cent of the EU average, according to the survey by the EU statistics office Eurostat.
Sweden came in at second place (128 per cent), Finland was third (125 per cent), Luxembourg fourth (122 per cent) and Ireland was fifth with 117 per cent.
Belgium and France weren’t far behind with 112 per cent and 111 per cent respectively.
At the other end of the scale, meanwhile, was Bulgaria which recorded the cheapest consumer goods and services prices at 51 per cent of the average. Poland and Romania both recorded 60 per cent of the average, while Hungary had 64 per cent and Lithuania had 66 per cent.
Food prices ranged from Bulgaria’s 67 per cent of the EU average to Denmark’s 136 per cent. Ireland registered 118 per cent of the EU27 average for prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Hotel and restaurant prices in Ireland were recorded at 126 per cent of the EU27 average in 2011. The most expensive place in this category was, once again, Denmark with 154 per cent of the average, while the cheapest was Bulgaria with 45 per cent.
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