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The Local Enterprise Office network is holding a webinar for small businesses today on changes to the trade regime since the UK left the EU at the start of January. The webinar will address, among other issues, how businesses can adapt to the new regime and the range of Government supports that are available to…

Euro zone inflation surged well past expectations last month, driven by rising energy costs and a German tax increase, posing a potential communications challenge for the European Central Bank.  Inflation has undershot the ECB’s nearly 2% target for most of the past decade.  The ECB has promised ultra-easy policy for years to come, with price…

The Covid-adjusted rate of unemployment rose to 25% in January, up from 19.4% in December, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office. Restrictions, including the closure of shops and restaurants and a ban on travel and home visits, were dropped for most of December but reimposed late in the month after a…

EU sources have expressed concern over the tone of Michael Gove’s letter to his European Commission counterpart on changes the UK is demanding to the Northern Ireland Protocol. The UK cabinet minister has demanded sweeping and swift changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol as the fallout continues from last week’s move by the Commission to…

Household savings continue to rise and debt levels continue to fall, according to the latest figures from the Central Bank.  The Central Bank’s quarterly financial accounts show that gross household savings rose by €570m between July and September to a total of €6.4 billion.   Household net worth, which captures the value of deposits and…

The euro zone economy contracted less than expected in the fourth quarter of 2020 amid pandemic-induced lockdowns, initial EU estimates showed today. But the euro zone may be heading for another, probably steeper decline in the first quarter of this year.  The European Union’s statistics office Eurostat said that according to its preliminary flash estimate,…

The country’s services sector contracted last month at the sharpest rate since the economy was emerging from an initial Covid-19 lockdown last May after the Government imposed its toughest restrictions in nine months.  Most building sites, shops and the hospitality sector was closed from late December after a four-week reopening led to a huge surge…

Consumer experts have warned online shoppers they should not be duped by fake ‘.ie’ websites, or they could face additional taxes and duties on what they buy. This comes post-Brexit and a month after the EU-UK withdrawal agreement became operational.  The European Consumer Centre (ECC) says people need to be aware whether the online shops they are buying from…

Minister for Transport, Environment and Climate Eamon Ryan will today seek Cabinet approval to introduce legislation to ban oil and gas exploration. Mr Ryan is aiming to add a provision to the Climate Action Bill to advance this change. The ending of oil and gas exploration and extraction is a commitment in the Programme for…

Almost 480,000 people will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week, an increase of 4,269 or less that 1%, according to the latest figures from the Department of Social Protection. The rate of increase in claims is slower than last week’s rise of 3% – though the claims figure is still well below the peak…