Archive for October 2021

Consumer confidence slipped in October, according to the latest Pulse survey from Bank of Ireland, which found that consumers were more concerned about rising prices. The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse posted a reading of 87.6 in October 2021. The index, which combines the results of the Consumer and Business Pulses, was down 0.6 on…

European energy ministers are holding a special meeting in Luxembourg to try to forge agreement on how to emerge from the current crisis in gas supplies, and the knock-on effect to electricity prices. Ireland has joined eight other mostly northern European countries in rejecting calls for a wholesale reform of the single energy market, or…

Late night entertainment is set to reopen across the country tonight, after new safety guidelines were signed-off between the Government and industry representatives. Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin said she was striking a balance between protecting public health and assisting the nightclub and live venue industry, which had been…

Consumer confidence held steady in October, according to latest KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment index. The reading for this month stood at 86.8, effectively unchanged from the figure of 86.4 reported for September. This follows a pattern of broadly stable sentiment numbers for the past six months. Despite a relatively healthy reading for October, the…

65% of companies increased basic pay this year, with an average increase of 2.8%, the latest Ibec HR Update Survey shows. The figures are higher than had been expected in the business group’s 2020 report, which Ibec said is indicative of the ongoing economic recovery. The proportion of employers awarding pay increases will be 75%…

New safety guidelines for nightclubs, live events, bars and restaurants will be published today. The Taoiseach told a meeting of his party last night the guidance for venues reopening on Friday would be practical and common sense will apply. Today’s updated guidelines are expected to permit the multiple booking of tables in bars and restaurants.…

Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) has warned members of the Oireachtas finance committee that planned new laws to make it easier to hold financial firm managers accountable for failings under their watch “cannot operate effectively” as long as a ban on bonuses remains in place. The comments were contained in a 15-page submission to…

Health insurance premiums look set to decrease as a result of the Health Insurance Authority’s recommendation of a one-off cut to the health insurance levy paid by insurers. The HIA has proposed to the Minister for Health that 10% or €45 be taken off the levy on advanced products and 22% or €35 should be…

A majority of renters still hope to own their own homes, according to research by a State housing body. However, two thirds of tenants now see the cost rental model as an longer term option, according to a survey published by the Land Development Agency (LDA). The LDA will be the main provider of cost…

More expensive energy and services boosted euro zone inflation as expected in September, data showed today, with core inflation also higher. The European Union’s statistics office Eurostat said consumer prices in the euro zone rose 0.5% month-on-month in September for a 3.4% year-on-year rise, as earlier estimated by Eurostat. While the headline number was well…