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Consumer sentiment remained broadly unchanged in September when compared to the previous month. The Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index found that while recent months saw an obvious improvement from the low levels of the previous two years, the upward momentum has stalled. “Irish consumers feel things are not getting notably worse, but there is little…

More than a quarter of households remain concerned about inflation, new research has found. That is despite the annual rate of inflation falling back to 1.7%, down more than four percentage points in the last year. After inflation, the Bank of Ireland Savings and Investment Index found the cost of housing and rent was the…

Older people and people with a disability are set to be eligible for increased housing grants under measures to be signed off by the Cabinet. A review of the housing adaptation grants overseen by Minister of State Alan Dillon has outlined a number of recommendations which would see an increase in grant limits, increases to…

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has said it is “crucially important” the implementation of the Government’s residential zoned land tax proceeds “immediately”. The levy is due to take effect from February next year and in the coming days ministers are to discuss how it can be introduced without affecting active farmers. ESRI research…

Activity in the tourism industry still remains 6% below its pre-Covid levels, two years on from the start of the easing of the pandemic. That is according to the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), which points out that while business levels remain subdued, costs have at the same time been soaring. The organisation claims the…

The domestic economy looks set to grow by around 2.3% this year, a new forecast has predicted. The latest Economic Eye from EY also expects that modified domestic demand, considered the best measure of the performance of the domestic economy, will rise by a further 3.2% next year. This is despite an expected contraction of…

Two-thirds of organisations plan to increase salaries in 2025 which is down from the 86% that did so in 2024, according to a new survey. The latest HR Barometer from employment consultants Adare shows that the average planned salary increase next year is 3.6%, close to the 3.7% actual increase in 2024. The survey found…

Euro zone business activity contracted sharply and unexpectedly this month as the bloc’s dominant services industry flatlined while a downturn in manufacturing accelerated, a survey showed today. The downturn appeared broadbased with Germany, Europe’s largest economy, seeing its decline deepen while France – the currency union’s second biggest – returned to contraction following August’s Olympics…

The regulatory environment and availability of the necessary talent are among the biggest factors influencing future growth of the funds and asset management industry here, a new study has found. 82% of firms surveyed said the domestic regulatory environment was among the top five factors impacting the expansion of the sector over the next five…

The Construction Industry Federation is holding its annual conference in Croke Park in Dublin today, which will focus on addressing population growth. The CIF is calling for a greater allocation of ring-fenced capital as well as maintenance investment in Ireland’s water, wastewater and electricity infrastructure in Budget 2025. It says at least 60,000 houses a…