Archive for August 2020

Activity in the services sector grew in July for the first time since the economy entered lockdown restrictions earlier this year, according to data from AIB. The July purchasing managers index (PMI) witnessed a modest expansion but the volumes of income new sales fell further, while employment continued to decline. The business activity index rose…

THE manufacturing sector clocked up its fastest pace of growth in almost two years in July, rebounding from the worst period of the lockdown. The pace of a recovery that was under way in June accelerated last month, according to AIB’s manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The index tracks growth and decline on index either…

Insurance companies should pay the legal costs of customers who challenge refusal to pay out on business interruption claims, the Central Bank say. In updated guidance, the regulator said that where cover and related issues are disputed, the Central Bank expects firms to pay the reasonable costs of customer plaintiffs in agreed test case litigation.…

The cost of running a family car has fallen, largely due to lower fuel prices at the forecourts. The average cost of running a family car fell to €10,386, according to the AA’s annual survey of motoring costs. This is down €207.26 on last year. The biggest year-on-year change is due to an almost 10pc…

Research and innovation is the bedrock of success for the most ambitious companies that scale internationally, diversify their export base and create jobs at home. A higher education sector and research ecosystem that is outward looking and internationally engaged, and collaborating with Irish companies, is of critical importance to Ireland’s place in the world and to…

An Post is to launch a “one-stop shop” for householders who are upgrading their homes to make them more energy efficient. The scheme involves a package that includes cheap loans, having the work carried out for homeowners, and applying for the grant for the consumer. The all-in-one approach will mean that those taking a loan…

The coronavirus pandemic has plunged Europe’s leading economies into historic recessions, figures published on Friday showed. France and Spain both reported double-digit quarter-on-quarter falls in economic output in the three months to June. The figures came after both the US and Germany on Thursday reported a loss of about a tenth of their gross domestic…

Workers in consumer-facing industries such personal services, accommodation, and food and beverage are most at risk of slipping into long-term unemployment once State supports are removed, a study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has warned. The research paper, entitled Managing Mass Unemployment Flows During the Covid-19 Pandemic, aims to categorise claimants of…

The Government has reversed a decision to exclude proprietary directors from the new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) after small business owners warned the move would lead to the closure of companies. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said late on Friday that he had asked Revenue to reinstate directors to the scheme and has also asked his…

Online marketplace DoneDeal has struck a deal with Stripe to make all sales and purchases on its site cashless and contact-free for the first time. Until now, users of the Wexford-based DoneDeal site – particularly popular for car shoppers – could list goods for sale online. But the sales themselves often required face-to-face cash handovers…