Archive for December 2023

Wind provided 37% of Ireland’s electricity in November, new data shows. The latest report from Wind Energy Ireland reveals that November was the third highest month for wind energy generation this year. The report confirms that wind energy has supplied a third of the country’s electricity in the first 11 months of this year. “These…

The last three days of November saw exceptional levels of gas demand, new figures from Gas Networks Ireland show, amid a cold snap which saw a sharp increase in the demand for gas to heat homes and businesses. November 30 and the 28 respectively were the highest two November gas demand days ever recorded with…

Chinese exports rose in November for the first time in seven months, officials said today, as the country navigates a troubled recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the reading compares with a low base from last year when authorities were still wedded to a zero-Covid policy that hammered output and business activity, while a surprise…

Almost half of organisations in Ireland have encountered cyber incidents in the last three years, while one in five have suffered resulting financial loss, according to new research from Microsoft Ireland. The study found that while one-third of companies have experienced a data breach, only 14% have had to report an incident to the National…

New research from price comparison website Bonkers.ie shows that Irish savers are collectively missing out on up to €3.5 billion in interest a year as they are slow to put their money into higher yielding savings accounts. Daragh Cassidy, Head of Communications at Bonkers.ie, is encouraging more Irish savers to move their money into higher…

Credit unions affiliated with the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) reported the highest level of new lending since 2009 in the last year, the latest results for the group show. In the 12 months to September, loan values were up by €555m. This brought the total ILCU loan book to €5.3 billion with much…

Corporation taxes recovered strongly in the month of November, helping the Exchequer to deliver a surplus of €5.4 billion. Just over €6 billion was collected in corporation tax, an increase of €1.3bn – or 27% – on last year. For the past three months, corporation tax has come in lower than government forecasts. But in…

Fashion and other non-food retailers in Ireland are increasing salaries by 10%-12% in a bid to secure and retain top-tier talent, according to the Excel Recruitment 2024 Salary Guide. Excel said the pay rises are putting a financial squeeze on the budgets of smaller retailers. According to the guide, some roles in the retail sector…

The rate of growth in the service sector picked up in November, new figures show. The latest AIB Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) shows the rates of expansion in total activity and new business both accelerated in the month for the first time since April. The index reached 54.2 last month, up from 52.6 in October…

Consumers expect average expenditure this Christmas to be down 13% compared with last year, according to a survey conducted for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The survey of 1,035 people found the average spend this year will be €1,030, down from €1,186 in 2022. Those with children under 18 will spend more at…