Posts by sean

Confidence among prospective home buyers remains strained, with many expressing growing frustration at the pace of housing delivery across Ireland. According to recent consumer sentiment research from MyHome, concern about the wider property market remains high, while only a small minority believe recent housing policy measures have made purchasing a home any easier. The survey…

Electricity bills often feel opaque, yet there is no single standard bill that applies to every household. What you pay depends on several factors, including where you live, how much electricity you use, and when you use it. Over recent years, these variables have become even more important as costs across the energy system have…

The Bank of England is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at its latest policy meeting, as policymakers wait for clearer signals that easing conditions in the labour market are translating into lower inflation. Economists anticipate that the Monetary Policy Committee will keep the benchmark Bank Rate at 3.75%, reflecting a cautious approach as…

New data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry indicates a sharp rise in electric vehicle sales at the start of the year, with January recording the highest number of new electric car registrations on record. A total of 7,319 new electric cars were registered during the month, representing an increase of 48.7% compared…

New figures show that wind power continued to play a central role in Ireland’s energy mix during 2025, supplying approximately one third of all electricity generated across the island. The data highlights both the growing scale of renewable generation and the challenges facing the national grid. According to Wind Energy Ireland’s latest annual report, the…

Inflation across the euro area eased in January, signalling the start of a period of softer price pressures that many economists expect to persist well into the year ahead. The latest figures suggest that the European Central Bank is likely to maintain its current interest rate stance for the foreseeable future. Data showed that annual…

Growth across Ireland’s manufacturing sector remained relatively subdued last month, according to the latest Purchasing Managers Index published by AIB. While activity continued to expand, the pace of improvement softened compared with December, reflecting weaker gains in both production and new orders. The survey highlighted subdued export demand and caution among clients, driven by ongoing…

A new industry survey suggests a confident outlook for Ireland’s travel sector heading into 2026, underpinned by strong profitability and rising revenues across much of the industry. According to the latest Annual Industry Barometer from the Irish Travel Agents Association, 86% of respondents reported that their business made a profit last year. Nearly half of…

Gold and silver prices moved higher today, recovering some ground after suffering their steepest two-day decline in decades. The recent volatility followed the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the US Federal Reserve and an increase in margin requirements by the CME Group, both of which cooled a rally that had pushed…

The US dollar strengthened against a broad range of currencies, rebounding from a four-year low reached in the previous session, after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated that the United States continues to favour a strong dollar. Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Bessent said a strong dollar policy is rooted in maintaining sound economic fundamentals. He…