Summer bargains cited as causeof first inflation dip in 6 months

By Andrew Bushe

DUBLIN — Summer sales with bargain buys were mainly responsible for the first drop in inflation for six months, with the consumer price index falling by 0.3 percent in July.

The bumper sales resulted in falls in the price of clothing and footwear by 8.1 percent and 1.4 percent in the cost of household goods.

Energy prices also fell by 0.3 percent, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office.