Archive for November 2023

A number of energy suppliers are set to cut charges for electricity and gas from today. Nearly two million customers will benefit from cuts in unit prices and standing charges. The reductions come ahead of the application of the first Government electricity credit in December. More than 1.1 million Electric Ireland customers will see the…

Business conditions in the manufacturing sector continued to weaken in October, new figures show. The latest Purchasing Managers Index from AIB reveals that activity weakened to the greatest extent in three months, driven by a fall in new orders and output. The index dropped to 48.2 from 49.6 in September, and 50.8 in August. Readings…

There has been a significant slowing in the estimated annual rate of inflation in October. According to the latest “flash” estimate of inflation from the Central Statistics Office, the annual rate in October slowed to 3.6%. The last time the annual rate of inflation was lower than this was back in August 2021, just before…

It has certainly been a busy eighteen months for the Monetary Policy Committee of the European Central Bank. Having spent several years repeating pretty much the same script, meeting after meeting, about leaving rates unchanged at their historically low levels, the inflationary backdrop prompted a change in course last year. And it was a course…

Consumer sentiment has improved slightly this month, boosted by the measures announced in Budget 2024. The latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index registered a pick up in the public’s mood, following weakness in recent months. The index stood at 60.4 in the month, compared to 58.8 in September. However that still leaves it below the…