Archive for March 2024

China’s exports sharply accelerated in the first two months of 2024, official figures showed today, providing policymakers a bright spot as they battle to revive the world’s second-largest economy. Overseas shipments have long served as a key driver of the country’s economic growth, providing vast amounts of jobs for the manufacturing sector. In January and…

Enhanced clarity, predictability and accessibility on consumer protection obligations are among the key aims of a new Consumer Protection Code being developed by the Central Bank. As part of the process, the regulator has launched a consultation paper on its plans today. Among the proposals is a requirement for firms to incorporate customers’ interests into…

Grocery price inflation fell for the tenth month in a row in February, new figures show today, with the decline expected to continue during the rest of the year. The latest figures from global retail market analyst Kantar show that grocery price inflation fell to 4.7% in the 12 weeks to February 18 from a…

Businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors are in line for a top-up payment of up to €3,000 in the Energy Efficiency Grant, under proposals Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney will bring to the Cabinet. Businesses in these sectors, who employ up to 50 people, are already eligible for a capital grant of up to…

The service sector here grew at its fastest pace in five months in February after slowing to a near standstill a month earlier, as firms reported rising levels of new business across all sectors, a survey showed today. The AIB Global S&P Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 54.4 from 50.5 in January. The index…

A new OECD report has found that there is an urgent need to take stock of anti-disinformation policies in countries around the world and to set a path for action. The study, ‘Facts not Fake: Tackling Disinformation, Strengthening Information Integrity’, warns that rising disinformation has far‑reaching consequences in many policy areas ranging from public health…

Ireland lags other part of Europe when it comes to retail payments, the Central Bank has claimed. The result is an unsatisfactory situation for both consumers and businesses the regulator has said. The comments were made by the bank’s deputy governor, Vasileios Madouros, at the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) organised National Payments…

Business activity in the euro zone showed signs of recovery last month as the bloc’s dominant services industry expanded for the first time since July, offsetting a deeper contraction in manufacturing, a survey showed today. HCOB’s composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the bloc, compiled by S&P Global and seen as a good guide of…

More than 15% of job postings in Ireland offer remote or hybrid work opportunities, ranking the country ahead of Germany, France and the US, but behind the UK, Austria, Spain and Poland. According to new analysis from jobs site Indeed, Poland featured the highest proportion of remote ads at over 21%. The share percentage for…

Business condition in the manufacturing sector improved in February, the latest AIB Purchasing Managers Index shows. It comes as production growth accelerated to the highest in 22 months, amid a renewed improvement in order books. The headline index increased to 52.2 from 49.5 in January – the first expansion in six months. Readings above 50…