Archive for December 2025

The Irish SME Association has warned that planned investment in Ireland’s electricity grid should not result in higher energy bills for businesses or households. The organisation argues that while upgrading the national network is necessary, the financial burden should not be transferred directly to end users. The warning follows comments from the energy regulator indicating…

Irish banks are warning consumers and businesses to be on high alert for a rise in so-called smishing scams in the lead-up to Christmas, as fraudsters increasingly exploit busy periods and heightened online activity. New figures show that text message fraud remains the most common source of payment scams reported by customers this year. AIB…

The Central Bank has warned that achieving the Government’s target of delivering 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030 will remain difficult, pointing to ongoing constraints across the construction sector. While the bank has slightly upgraded its outlook for housing output, it remains cautious about the pace at which supply can increase. According to…

Residential property prices continued to rise in the year to October, with annual growth easing marginally to 7.3 percent, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office. This compares with a revised growth rate of 7.5 percent in September, suggesting price inflation remains strong despite signs of a gradual slowdown. The figures show…

The European Central Bank is expected to leave interest rates unchanged, reflecting a growing confidence that the euro zone economy is proving more resilient than previously feared. Recent economic data from across the single currency area has outperformed earlier ECB forecasts, easing pressure on policymakers to consider near term rate cuts. Growth across the 20…

Recent Budget decisions are set to lead to a fall of around 1.3 percent in disposable incomes for many households, according to new analysis from the Economic and Social Research Institute. The ESRI suggests the impact will be felt most acutely by middle and higher income earners, following the freezing of income tax credits and…

Ireland has reduced its energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by 16% since 2018, yet remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels as the economy continues to expand, according to a new report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The Energy in Ireland 2025 report finds that while emissions linked to energy use are now at their…

New figures from the UK’s Office for National Statistics indicate a continued softening in the British labour market, with unemployment rising and wage growth easing again, particularly affecting younger workers. The unemployment rate increased to 5.1% in the three months to October, up from 5% in the previous period. This marks the highest level recorded…

New figures from IrishJobs indicate that construction-related roles are leading Ireland’s employment demand as the labour market moves through 2025, with project managers emerging as the single most sought-after position. According to the data, eight of the ten most in-demand roles this year are linked to the construction sector. This reflects ongoing skills shortages that…

The cost of putting Christmas dinner on the table has risen slightly this year, according to new data from Worldpanel by Numerator. A traditional Christmas dinner for a family of four is estimated to cost €32.28, compared with €31.22 last year, reflecting modest but noticeable increases in seasonal food spending. While some everyday items such…