Rent and fuel costs rise sharply
The cost of renting climbed more than 5% in November from a year earlier and the cost of home heating and electricity, petrol and diesel also rose sharply, according to CSO figures.
Its consumer price index showed overall inflation is rising by a meagre 0.5%. Private rents were up 5.6% in November compared to the same month in 2016, while local authority rents increased by 6.5%.
Petrol prices rose almost 6% while diesel went up more than 5%, possibly reflecting the Opec-driven rises in global energy prices.
The price of electricity, gas and other fuels went up almost 5% overall in the past year, with electricity and bottled gas showing significant increases. There was a big jump in the price of home heating oil, up almost 13% in the past year.
Homeowners managed to save on household appliances, the price of which fell almost 5%.
While motor insurance costs dropped more than 8%, motorbike owners saw an increase of more than 12% for their insurance.
Passengers travelling by sea saw costs surge by almost 20%, while air travel prices stayed almost the same.
