Archive for December 2025

The European Commission is expected to outline proposals that could significantly alter the EU’s plan to phase out new petrol and diesel car sales from 2035. The move follows sustained lobbying from major member states, including Germany and Italy, alongside mounting pressure from European carmakers facing intense competition from US and Chinese manufacturers. While final…

Electricity users across Ireland are set to see higher bills from next year as funding is put in place for a large-scale overhaul of the national electricity grid. Monthly increases are expected to range from €1 to as much as €1.75 before VAT, depending on how the investment programme progresses. While the individual increase may…

Market volatility and uncertainty look set to remain a defining feature of the investment landscape into 2026, according to investment specialists, with geopolitical change reshaping both risks and potential returns. The past year has been characterised by rising international tensions, trade disputes, tariffs and a growing trend towards economic isolation. These forces show little sign…

The European Central Bank is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at its meeting this week, marking a fourth consecutive pause as inflation remains broadly under control. While policy itself looks set to stay steady, disagreement is growing beneath the surface over where rates should head next. After a year of rate reductions, the…

The European Commission is expected to signal a significant shift in its climate and transport policy, with plans to revise the EU’s effective ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035. The move follows sustained lobbying from major member states, including Germany and Italy, alongside mounting pressure from European carmakers facing…

The UK economy recorded an unexpected decline in the three months to October, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. The data shows that gross domestic product fell by 0.1% over the August to October period, defying expectations of flat growth and reinforcing market expectations of an imminent interest rate cut by…

Ireland’s annual rate of consumer price inflation increased to 3.2% in November, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office. This marks an acceleration from the 2.9% rate recorded in October and represents the highest annual inflation level since February 2024. The data shows that price pressures remain widespread across several sectors of…

Ireland’s domestic economy is expected to record modest but steady growth over the next ten years, according to a new projection from the Economic and Social Research Institute. The research suggests annual growth of slightly over 2%, pointing to a period of stability rather than rapid expansion. The study assesses how the Irish economy may…

New data from the Central Bank shows that the average interest rate on new mortgages in Ireland fell to 3.56 percent at the end of October. This represents a slight monthly decrease and the lowest level recorded since March 2023. Although rates have eased, Ireland still ranks among the higher-cost mortgage markets in the euro…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office indicate a notable uplift in planning activity, with permissions granted in the third quarter rising by 29.4 percent compared with the same period last year. This marks the strongest quarter of approvals since late 2023 and will likely be interpreted as an encouraging sign for future housing supply.…