The latest wholesale price index figures from Ireland‘s Central Statistics Office points to a “two‑speed dynamic in producer prices”, EY Ireland has said.
Simon MacAllister, co-head of geopolitical strategy at EY Ireland, was commenting following the publication of the CSO’s April 2026 Wholesale Price Index, which indicated that while some sectors, such as food (1%), manufacturing goods (1.4%) and construction (2.0%), have only seen moderate price rises, energy prices have risen sharply.
‘Geopolitical disruption’
Energy markets continue to experience significant volatility linked to geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruption, he said.
“Wholesale prices for all energy fuels rose 32% month on month and by over 42% in the 12 months to April 2026, underscoring the continued impact of geopolitical disruption on global energy and commodity flows,” MacAllister commented.
“Even in the event of a full reopening of the Strait, these pressures are unlikely to ease in the near term given the time required for supply chains to normalise, production to restart, and inventories to rebuild.”
EY also said that limited substitution options for key industrial inputs such as petrochemicals and fertilisers, alongside ongoing supply-chain adjustments, “continue to place upward pressure on input costs, which we expect to see factored into wider prices in the coming months”.
MacAllister added that while wholesale electricity prices were 18% higher than April 2025 levels, “they remain around 66% below their August 2022 peak following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
Other notable producer price shifts for the month, according to the CSO, included Fish & Fish Products (+8.6%); Chemicals & Chemical Products (+11.9%); Fabricated Metal Products, except Machinery & Equipment (+5.0%); Pulp, Paper & Paper Products (+4.1%); Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products (+3.6%); and Printing & Reproduction of Recorded Media (+2.7%). Read more here.
