Posts by sean

Oil prices rose today after settling more than $2 a barrel lower in the previous session, but were set to drop for a second week in a row on concerns over a prolonged trade war between the US and China. Brent futures rose 90 cents, or 1.4%, to $64.23 a barrel this morning, while US…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the country’s inflation rate rose to 2% on an annual basis in March compared to 1.8% a month earlier. This marked the first time that inflation has been at, or above, 2% since July 2024 when the rate of inflation was 2.2%. The CSO said that…

A new survey of homeowners, renters and prospective buyers reveals a big jump in younger age groups saying they are considering applying for social housing in response to housing affordability concerns. PTSB’s latest Reflecting Ireland research shows that 46% of people who are in the market to buy a home are now considering applying for…

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said any supports to help businesses affected by US tariffs needs to be “financially sustainable” in the medium and long-term. He was responding to calls for the introduction of a wage subsidy scheme in response to the tariffs. During Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, Labour leader Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach…

Oil prices fell for a fifth day to their lowest since February 2021 today on looming demand concerns fuelled by an escalating tariff war between the US and China, the world’s two biggest economies, and a rising supply outlook. Brent futures dropped $1.39, or 2.21%, to $61.43 a barrel early this morning. US West Texas…

European and Asian stocks extended a slide on Wall Street this morning as President Donald Trump pressed ahead with whopping 104% tariffs on Chinese goods, pummelling oil prices to four-year lows as global recession fears gripped financial markets. London’s FTSE index had dropped 2.2% in opening trade, while the Paris CAC was down 2.8% and…

New figures today show that take-home grocery sales in Ireland increased by 3.4% over the four weeks to March 23 compared to the same time last year. Kantar said this marks the slowest market growth rate since November 2022, despite St Patrick’s Day celebrations and Pancake Tuesday falling during the period under review. Kantar also…

Construction activity rose in March – the first increase in total activity in three months – amid stronger new order growth, the latest Purchasing Managers Index from AIB shows. The AIB Ireland Construction Total Activity Index moved back above the 50 no-change mark in March to reach 53.9, up from 48.7 in February, marking the…

The threat of a trade war will influence how the housing market will perform this year, according to a new report by property website MyHome.ie, in association with Bank of Ireland. The report says the Irish property market has a “disproportionate reliance” on high income earners working in multinational sector, which leaves it vulnerable to…

The total European Union response to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs could amount to duties on US goods worth €400 billion, RTÉ News understands. This would represent retaliation for the US tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminium, last Wednesday’s “reciprocal” tariffs of 20% on most EU exports, and the 25% tariffs on European car…