Archive for August 2021

Irish consumer sentiment improved marginally in August while confidence dipped in the US, UK and euro area. The latest consumer sentiment index from KBC Bank Ireland increased to 86.5 in August from 84.9 in July. That saw the sentiment index largely – but not entirely – reversing July’s drop from the two-year high of 87.2…

The vacancy rate in commercial properties around Ireland remained relatively steady in the second quarter of 2021. According to the latest GeoView Commercial Vacancy Rates Report from EY for GeoDirectory, out of a total commercial property stock of 211,739 units in Ireland, 28,831 were classified as vacant in June this year. This resulted in a…

The number of people due to receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) this week has fallen by less than 4,000 when compared to last week. 149,436 will get the PUP in the coming few days, down from 153,309 last week. It is the first time that the number of recipients has fallen below the 150,000…

The chief executive of Ibec has told the Government it is vital that the next road map to reopening the economy is less prescriptive in nature than previously. In a letter to the Taoiseach and other ministers, Danny McCoy said businesses welcomed that Government is publishing a revised road map to reflect the progress made…

Opinion: the way we work has implications for our psychological well-being and social relationships within and beyond the workplace After 18 months of living with Covid-19, this autumn has been heralded as the time for a return to normality. Across Ireland and the UK, footfall in towns and cities is expected to increase as workers…

80% of retailers are in rent arrears with at least one landlord, a new survey by industry representative body Retail Excellence has revealed. The research also found that in one fifth of rent arrears cases, the retailer claimed there had been no engagement whatsoever from their landlord. “This survey provides a useful indication of what…

Health insurance, pensions and paid sick leave are among the top benefits sought by employees from their employers, new research has revealed. However, the provision of support for childcare was the benefit that was least offered by employers, the study by Morgan McKinley also found, with just 1.1% receiving it from the firm they work…

The Irish grocery market declined by 3.9% during the 12 weeks to August 8, as life continued to edge back to normal and indoor dining in restaurants, pubs and cafés returned for people who are double vaccinated. Kantar said it was important to put the dip in sales in perspective as they are compared to…

This year’s surge in inflation in the euro zone is still seen as temporary, even if prices continue to rise from already high levels, European Central Bank board member Isabel Schnabel told a German newspaper over the weekend. Repeating the ECB’s long-standing view on inflation, Schnabel said that over the medium term, inflation still risked…

AIB is preparing for the issuance of a Social Bond which it says will go towards financing community programmes across the country. The bank has launched a Social Bond Framework which will pave the way for it to tap what it believes is expanding investor appetite for bonds issued by organisations that go towards achieving…