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Planning to cut back on Christmas spending is now a seasonal norm, according to analysis of the Credit Union Consumer Sentiment survey for November. It contained a special question on consumers spending plans for Christmas, and compared it with spending intentions in the previous three years. Over half of consumers expect to have less to…

It’s the time of year when the purse strings are being loosened in the run into the festive season. Most of us are at the stage where we’re at least starting to plan for the months ahead and, more importantly, how we’re going to finance and manage the annual Christmas spend. Following at least two…

More expensive services and food were the main drivers of consumer price growth in the euro zone in October, data showed today, as the EU’s statistics office confirmed year-on-year inflation slowed sharply. Eurostat said consumer inflation in the 20 countries using the euro decelerated to 2.9% year-on-year in October from 4.3% in September after prices…

Oil prices were little changed today but on track for their fourth week of losses in a row after tumbling about 5% to a four month-low yesterday on worries over global demand. Brent futures edged up seven cents, or 0.1%, to $77.49 a barrel in early trade. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) was at…

The Government has announced that the entitlement to paid sick leave will increase from three to five days on 1 January 2024. It is the second stage of a four-year plan which will see employer-paid sick leave gradually rise to ten days in 2026. The move is designed to ensure that all employees get a…

Residential property prices rose nationally in September, compared to the same month last year, by 1.4%. This compares to an annual rate of 1.1% in August, the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show. The rate of price increases outside Dublin rose to an annual rate of 4%, compared to 3.4% in August. However,…

Exports of goods from Ireland fell 17% in September, compared to the same month of last year, driven in large part by a further sizeable drop in sales of pharmaceutical related products and electronics. In total, goods valued at just under €16 billion were exported during the month, compared to €19.4 billion in September of…

The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe has invited public service unions and staff representative associations to enter negotiations with the Government on a new public sector pay agreement. The talks will take place under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The current public sector pay deal, Building Momentum,…

The Government is to build a new floating gas storage facility for Liquified Natural Gas to use as a strategic emergency reserve in case of global supply disruptions. It is one of 28 actions included in its new and long-awaited energy security strategy launched today. The plan is to pay for the construction and operation…

A more discerning, occasion-led approach to dining out is likely to take hold next year, the latest Bord Bia annual Foodservice Market Insights report concludes. It comes against the backdrop of continued increases in consumer prices together with growing economic uncertainty, as well as a ‘rebalancing’ of consumer demand following a post-pandemic surge. Figures from…