FEWER NEW HOMES were completed in the three months to June, when compared to the same period last year. Apartment completions meanwhile in Q2 were 2,658, down 12.2% from last year, while there were 4,738 scheme dwelling completions, up 2%. The CPI is estimated to have risen by 3.1% in the 12 months to July, with no change since last month. This compares with inflation of 3.2% in the 12 months to June 2026. Energy prices are estimated to have decreased by 1.7% in the month and have gone up by 6.5% over the 12 months to July, while food prices are estimated to have gone up by 0.3% in the last month and increased by 0.8% in the last 12 months.