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The latest “flash” estimate of inflation from the Central Statistics Office shows that the annual rate came in at 1.5% in the year to July, unchanged from a more than three-year low in June. The rate of 1.5% compares with an annual increase of 2.5% in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for the…

The economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.2% between April and June when compared to the previous three months. That is according to an early estimate from the Central Statistics Office, which shows that this growth was mainly driven by the multinational dominated industry sector. When compared to the same quarter…

There was a 14.4% increase in professional job openings in the second quarter of the year compared to the previous quarter, according to new data. The latest Quarterly Employment Monitor from recruitment firm Morgan McKinley shows that the surge in vacancies was primarily observed during April and May, with a slight downturn in June. The…

There has been an increase in the number of workers in Ireland who cannot afford a week’s holiday away from home, either in their own country or abroad, according to new research. Analysis of EU data for the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has found that in 2022, an estimated 14.8% of Irish workers could…

Nearly 80% of foreign direct investment decision-makers are planning to establish or expand operations in Ireland over the next year. That is according to the latest EY Attractiveness Survey, and marks a significant improvement on the result from 2023. In last year’s survey just 53% of FDI decision-makers said they were planning an investment in…

The number of mortgage drawdowns by first time buyers reached the highest level since 2007 between April and June, new data shows. The latest figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland show an overall moderation in mortgage activity. A total of 10,110 new mortgages to the value of over €2.85 billion were drawn down by…

The consumer mood has risen to its highest level in two and a half years, according to the latest Credit Union consumer sentiment index. Easing cost-of-living concerns and continued improvements in the economy have boosted consumers’ attitudes, according to the survey. That led to an across-the-board pick up in the index’s readings. Consumers were more…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that Irish ports handled 12.1 million tonnes of goods in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 2% compared with the same time last year. The CSO said that goods forwarded from Irish ports amounted to 3.8 million tonnes during January, February and March, while…

Commercial construction inflation was 1.5% in the first half of the year, the same rate as the six months before that. It means that the annual median national rate of commercial construction inflation for the year to June was 3%. That’s more than of the half the rate of 6.2% recorded in the previous 12…

Pressure was coming to bear on the banks this time last year to offer better returns to depositors against the backdrop of rising interest rates. They did respond with better offerings but consumers have to be willing to set their money aside for a few years in order to avail of the better rates. Most…