Posts by sean

Growth in the country’s services sector eased slightly in February, with both total activity and new business expanding at the weakest rate for more than a year, a survey showed today. The AIB Global S&P Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 53.2 from 53.4 in January. The index has been above the 50 mark that…

Retail sales fell by 0.5% month-on-month in January and by 0.3% year-on-year, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show today. The CSO said that excluding car sales, the monthly volume of retail sales was down by 1.5% in January from the previous month and was down 0.3% in the year when compared with January…

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he will tell US President Donald Trump that tariffs could cause damage to a “small open economy” like Ireland when the two men meet in Washington next month. Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Mr Martin said that he “will give our perspective” on the issue at the White House on…

Consumer prices rose by 1.3% year-on-year in February compared to a 1.5% rise a month earlier, a flash estimate of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices from the Central Statistisc Office show. The CSO said that energy prices are estimated to have risen by 0.7% in the month and decreased by 2.5% over the 12…

Euro zone inflation was heading back to target but there were still some worries about inflation, warranting caution in signalling further policy easing, the ECB concluded last month, according to the accounts of their January 29-30 meeting. The ECB cut rates for the fifth time since June last month and hinted at even more policy…

Ireland will take a “step-by-step” approach in response to any trade tariffs imposed on the EU by US President Donald Trump, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said. Mr Martin said the detail of individual moves made by the White House would be key, but he reiterated his view that tariffs posed an economic risk that could…

Bitcoin fell to a three and a half month low today, dragged by uncertainty about US President Donald Trump’s tariff plans and crypto policy and flagging investor confidence after a $1.5 billion hack in rival coin ether. Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market value, was last down more than 5% on the day at…

Despite concerns that landlords are leaving the market, new research from the State body which regulates the rental sector shows the number of registered private tenancies rose by 7.6% last year to 240,964. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) also found there was a significant rise in tenancies in properties provided by Approved Housing Bodies which…

The European Commission has today proposed making €100 billion available to support EU-made clean manufacturing, streamlining public procurement processes and simplifying state aid rules to give Europe’s ailing industries a boost. The measures are part of a new Clean Industrial Deal under which the EU executive would provide support for energy-hungry industries that face “high…

Cost-of-living concerns and US policy shifts weighed on Irish consumer confidence in February, according to the latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey. The study notes that a spate of announcements of price increases during the month suggest pressure on household finances remains an issue. While it says increased concerns about the implications of policy changes…