Prices in Ireland are continuing to rise.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show prices rose by 0.6% in the last month alone.

While year-on-year the cost of consumer goods has grown by 2%.

The biggest changes in the last year were in the area of education which was up 9%.

This is mainly due to an increase in 3rd-level fees.

Transport costs are up 8% driven by an increase in airfares and higher fuel costs.

However these were offset by falling mortgage costs and a decrease in the cost of recreational and sporting services.

Separately there was an increase of 2.3% in the number of new private cars licensed last month when compared to the same time last year.

3,736 new private cars were licensed in August.

That is an increase of 83 on 2011.

The number of new goods vehicles licensed in August this year was 908 compared with 968 last year which is seen a decrease of 6.2%.

There was also a fall of 7.4% in the number of all vehicles registered last month: 9,335 compared with 10,077 in August 2011.

The licensing figures refer to vehicles taxed for road use only.

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