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The Irish economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) returned to growth in the second quarter of the year, new preliminary figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show. GDP grew by an estimated 3.3% between April and June. That compares to a contraction of 2.8% in the first three months driven by a…

The Irish commercial property market suffered the third sharpest slowdown in investment across 27 countries in Europe over the first half of 2023, according to BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland, with the market described as being at a ‘near standstill’. The second three months of the year was the weakest quarter for investment property in…

Inflation in Ireland, as measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, is estimated to have moderated to an annual rate of 4.6% in July from 4.8% in June, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show. Today’s CSO flash inflation figures show that energy prices are estimated to have increased by 0.2% in the…

Over 90% of small and medium sized businesses in Ireland plan to maintain or increase their investment in sustainability practices over the next year. The SME sustainability sentiment survey conducted by Behaviour and Attitudes for Uisce Éireann reveals that 73% of companies plan to maintain their current level of investment, while 20% expect to increase…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the number of homes owned without a mortgage or loan increased by 11% to nearly 680,000 while the number owned with a mortgage or loan fell by 1% in 2022. Compiled from data in Census 2022, today’s CSO figures also show that the housing stock increased…

The European Central Bank has today raised interest rates for the ninth consecutive time and said it was open-minded about further tightening as stubbornly high inflation and recession worries pull policymakers in opposing directions. Fighting off a historic surge in prices, the ECB has now lifted borrowing costs by a combined 425 basis points since…

The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to raise interest rates again at a meeting of its Governing Council in Frankfurt today. Markets are expecting a further 0.25% rise in rates, as efforts continue to bring inflation in the euro area under control. If rates do increase as expected today, it would be the ninth…

Warmer weather and the ending of the academic year in education institutions led to demand for gas dropping by 10% in June compared to May. Overall, gas demand was 9% lower in June of this year compared to last, Gas Networks Ireland said. The residential sector drew -53% less gas in June compared to a…

329 corporate insolvencies were recorded in Ireland in the first half of the year, new figures from Deloitte show. This is up 30% on the same time last year, when 253 insolvencies were recorded. 186 corporate insolvencies were recorded in the second quarter of the year, up 30% on the previous quarter. These figures represent…

The Abhaile scheme, which supports families who are in serious or long-term mortgage arrears and are at risk of losing their homes, has been extended by the Government for a further four years. Funded and managed jointly by the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Justice, the scheme was set up in 2016…