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Personal lending activity in Ireland continued its strong upward trend last year, with new figures showing record levels of borrowing across car finance, home improvements and environmentally focused loans. Data from the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland indicates that personal loan drawdowns rose sharply in the third quarter, with total values increasing by 15.7 percent…

Bitcoin fell below the $70,000 mark, slipping to its lowest level since Donald Trump won the US presidential election in November 2024. The world’s largest cryptocurrency dropped to an intraday low of $69,821 before recovering slightly to trade back above $70,000. The decline reflects a broader retreat from risk across global markets. In recent weeks,…

The European Central Bank has opted to keep interest rates unchanged, a move that was widely anticipated by markets, while signalling that recent currency movements have not altered its medium-term policy outlook. Having paused its policy easing cycle in June after a year of rate reductions, the ECB now finds itself in a more comfortable…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…