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The euro zone’s current account surplus shrunk in July on a lower trade surplus and a drop in primary income, which includes the flow of profits, wages, interest income and dividends into and out of the bloc, European Central Bank data showed today. The seasonally adjusted current account surplus fell to €39.6 billion in July…

Dealing with the pent-up demand for housing and continued growth in the population will require building 52,000 homes a year over 25 years, the Central Bank has forecast. It has also calculated that if the Government wanted to reduce the deficit of homes over a decade and meet demand it would need to build almost…

A bill that seeks to abolish age-based sub-minimum pay rates for younger workers will be discussed today by the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Current legislation allows for lower or sub-minimum rates for people aged under 20. The minimum wage for those aged 19 is 90% of the prevailing rate, for those aged…

The Tánaiste has said the energy credit which will be announced in the budget will be paid to households before the end of the year. With Budget 2025 now less than two weeks away, Micheál Martin is expected to hold further discussions on its overall shape with the Government party leaders tonight. However, he said…

The European Central Bank should keep cutting interest rates gradually, its chief economist said today, after policymakers reduced borrowing costs last week for the second time this year. “A gradual approach to dialling back restrictiveness will be appropriate if the incoming data are in line with the baseline projection,” Philip Lane said in a speech…

The national commercial vacancy rate hit a new high of 14.4% in June, new data shows. 30,246 commercial units were classified as vacant across the country, according to the latest GeoDirectory report. The analysis, prepared by EY, found that the commercial vacancy rate increased in 14 out of 26 counties surveyed. “While the national commercial…

New figures from Kantar today show that take-home grocery sales increased by 5.4% in the four weeks to September 1 as Irish households prepared for the new school year. Shopping frequency increased by 0.7% in September, along with an increase in average prices of 2.4%, while volumes per trip were also up slightly by 0.4%…

A developer has told a conference there should be an exemption from the Government’s planned zone land tax for companies that are working on developing sites. The Cabinet is introducing a 3% annual levy to discourage speculators from hoarding land that can be used for housing. Senior managing director of US group Hines Brian Moran…

A multi-million euro investment package has been announced to boost tourism and develop new visitor attractions on two islands. Fáilte Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta will work in conjunction with comharchumann (community cooperatives) on Inis Mór and Cléire to bring the projects to fruition. It is part of an initiative to encourage Gaeltacht visits and…

Ahead of Budget 2025 in October, here are eight changes to look out for: 1. Inheritance tax At present if somebody inherits from a parent, they pay 33% capital acquisition tax on everything above 335,000. This threshold will almost certainly rise to €400,000. The €65,000 increase will be welcomed by many in the context of…