IRISH PRICES FOR ALL seven of the main categories of food, beverages and tobacco were above the EU average in 2012. The latest figures from the CSO show that out of 37 countries surveyed, Ireland came seventh from the top on the price level indices for food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Meat, bread and cereals

Irish prices for meat, bread and cereals were ten per cent above the EU average, while Irish customers paid 38 per cent above the average for fruit, vegetables and potatoes. Ireland also paid 19 per cent above the average for milk, cheese and eggs.

Prices for tobacco last year was 99 per cent above the average, while price levels in Ireland for alcohol were higher than the EU average by 62 per cent.

These results are taken from the survey on food, beverages and tobacco, carried out in 2012 within the Eurostat-OECD Purchasing Power Parities (PPP) Programme. The survey covered approximately 500 items.

According to the survey, Switzerland pay the most for their meat, with prices there 121 per cent above average. Albanian prices for meat were the lowest in the EU, coming in 48 per cent below the EU average.

Norway had the highest price levels for bread and cereals, while the lowest price levels were observed in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 83 per cent above and 46 per cent below the EU average respectively.

The country groups included in the analysis are the 27 European Union (EU) Member States, three European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), acceeding country Croatia, four candidate countries (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey) and two potential candidate countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina).

The CSO state that the differences in prices show there’s a large variation within the EU.

13 pieces of delicious celebrity-inspired food art>

How NOT to eat your eggs this morning>