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Almost two-thirds of Irish adults have experienced phishing, making Ireland the most phished country in the world, according to new research. Phishing involves the sending of fraudulent emails designed to trick people into disclosing personal information. The Irish rate of phishing is almost twice the global average according to the Worldwide Independent Network of Market…

The number of mortgages approved in August fell by 12.5% when compared to July. New figures from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) show 4,650 mortgages received approval during the month. While that was down on the previous month, it was up by 2.6% on the same period last year. Of the total, 2,862…

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…