Food prices were the main reason for the jump in prices, with the cost of a kilogram of steak up €5 in the past year.
Higher prices for meat, milk, butter, fish and pints of lager and stout sent the overall inflation rate for the year to September to 2.7pc.
Inflation is up from 2pc in August, and is the highest inflation rate since March last year.
The latest figures come as the budget disappointed middle-income earners as there was no income-tax package announced.
This means someone earning €50,000 is expected to pay almost €500 extra in tax, USC and PRSI next year after the Government froze income tax bands and credits.
The budget will also hit low-income people and increase income poverty levels, particularly for older people, because of the failure to provide a cost-of-living package, according to the Oireachtas-based Parliamentary Budget Office.
Latest food price rises come at a time when Local Property Tax bills are going up, health insurance premiums are rising by up to €600 for families, and a string of energy companies are hiking prices, adding up to €250 to annual bills.
Petrol and diesel prices went up on budget night due to carbon tax hikes, adding around €3 to the cost of a typical tank fill.
Independent economist Austin Hughes said it was going to be an expensive winter for many.
He said the latest figures show that price pressures in many areas are intensifying. Meat prices increased at their fastest rate in two-and-a-half years, clothing prices rose at their fastest rate in two years, and energy prices registered their first year-on-year increase in two years.
The cost of sirloin steak has now become unaffordable for many
Mr Hughes said energy prices will pick up this winter, and global and local drivers are still pointing to upward pressure on food prices.
The loss of budget cost-of-living supports and the rise in property tax means “many consumers may find cost-of-living pressures cause them real difficulties in the months ahead”.
Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show that inflation rose to 2.7pc in the year to September 2025, up from 2pc the previous month.
One of the main reasons for this was a 4.7pc surge in food prices in the year to September.
The cost of sirloin steak has now become unaffordable for many. It is now €22 per kilogram, up 29pc on a year ago. The price of a pint of Guinness is up 25c in the past year to more than €6, the CSO said. A pint of lager in a pub is now €6.50 on average across the country.
Health, home and motor insurance costs also continue to rise.
The average price of full-fat milk per two litres was up 27c in the year.
Butter per pound rose by 68c to €4.81.
Roast beef (topside or rib) has risen in price per kilogram by €3.10 in the past year to €15.91.
Childcare costs showed their first year-on-year increase in three years in September and the rise of 3.8pc was the fastest since September 2009.