‘High’ life satisfaction rate rises from 24% in 2022 to 29% last year – CSO
New research from the Central Statistics Office show that the proportion of people who rate their overall life satisfaction as “high” has increased from 24.4% in 2022 to 28.9% in 2023. A greater proportion of men (32.1%) reported high levels of overall life satisfaction when compared with women (25.9%), the CSO noted. People aged 65 […]
Health insurance prices increased by 11% this year
The Health Insurance Authority is urging consumers to review their policy and shop around to ensure they are not overpaying while securing the right coverage for their needs as the health insurance renewals period nears. The HIA said that private health insurance now costs €1,712 on average with price increases of 11% so far this […]
Average home rebuilding costs climb 6.2% in the last year
The national average cost of rebuilding a home has risen by 6.2% in the last year. That is lower than the 12% increase recorded last year and the 21% seen in 2022. But the new research by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) found that the rate of growth in rebuild costs over the […]
Unions call on next government to respect workers’ rights
A group of trade unions will today launch its General Election pledge calling on the next government to respect workers’ rights. The ‘Respect at Work’ campaign is backed by SIPTU, the Financial Services Union (FSU), the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) and Mandate. The campaign said it is approaching parties and candidates from across the political […]
Interest rate cut next month not yet certain – Makhlouf
The Governor of the Central Bank has said it would be going a bit far to say an ECB interest rate cut next month is in the bag. However, Gabriel Makhlouf also said the evidence would need to be “pretty overwhelming” to consider a 50-basis-point cut at the meeting on 12 December. The Central Bank […]
Halloween treats boost grocery sales by over 6%
Consumers spent a total of €1.16 billion in grocery stores in the four weeks to 3 November, making it the biggest sales month of the year so far. New figures from Kantar show that grocery sales jumped 6.4%, boosted by Halloween treats and early Christmas purchases. Grocery inflation stood at 3.3%, down on the same […]
Wind generation was third highest on record in October
Wind generation in Ireland was the third highest on record for the month of October, according to new figures from Wind Energy Ireland. The latest figures show that wind energy provided 35% of Ireland’s electricity last month, while solar power and other renewables accounted for 4%. It means that Irish wind farms have generated nearly […]
Skills shortages a top concern within trades – survey
Skills shortages – and the cost of recruiting skilled labour – is the most common concern among tradespeople, according to a new survey. It was cited by 29% of respondents to the Onlinetradesman.com survey – which included builders, plumbers, electricians and landscapers – as their biggest obstacle to their operations and growth. “The issue is […]
Petrol and diesel prices up slightly in November – AA
The latest AA Ireland Fuel Survey reveals a slight increase in petrol and diesel prices for November after three months of fuel price decreases in a row. AA Ireland said that petrol prices have risen by two cents to an average of €1.73 a litre, while diesel prices have increased by a cent to €1.67 […]
Ireland says it expects to meet deadline for workers’ rights directive
The Government has said it expects to meet a deadline today to transpose an EU directive on workers’ rights. Unions however have accused the State of not fully implementing the rules by failing to pass new legislation. The EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages seeks to reduce working poverty and inequality by improving statutory minimum […]
Dublin ranks 17 out of 30 cities for real estate investment
Dublin has dropped from 13th to 17th position out of 30 European cities ranked for investment and development potential for 2025. London, Madrid and Paris took the top spots, according to a report by PwC and the Urban Land Institute. When it comes to investing in Ireland, interviewees referenced certain infrastructure deficits and the complexity […]
Building sector running at 77% capacity despite demands
The Irish construction industry is running at around three quarters of its capacity on average at present, despite the strong demand for new housing and infrastructure. That’s according to the latest Construction Market Overview from building services firm Turner & Townsend, covering the period from July to September. Overall 78% of respondents said the construction […]
Onshore wind energy delays may result in 2030 target miss
The slow pace at which onshore wind energy infrastructure is being built in the Republic and Northern Ireland could result in the renewable energy targets set for 2030 being missed. Energy market consultancy Cornwall Insight estimates that at the current level of delivery the target could be missed by as much as three years. Its […]
Most Irish CEOs optimistic about growth and profitability
Most Irish CEOs are optimistic about the economic and business outlook over the next 12 months, new data shows. The latest EY CEO Outlook surveyed 1,200 executives globally – including CEOs in Ireland. 60% of Irish CEOs surveyed said they are either very or somewhat optimistic about managing input costs and the overall cost of […]
Crypto market capitalisation hits record $3.2 trillion
The value of the global cryptocurrency market has topped $3 trillion as the election of Donald Trump as US president spurred bets that friendlier US regulation could usher in a new boom for all corners of the asset class. The sum market value of cryptocurrencies touched a high of nearly $3.2 trillion early on November […]
Rents climb 1.7% between July and September
Advertised rents for homes across the country rose by a further 1.7% between July and September, according to new data from the property listings website Daft.ie. It was the 15th consecutive quarterly rise and brought the average monthly rent sought nationally to €1,955. That represents an increase of 7.2% compared to the same time last […]
Value of food services up 5.2% driven by rising costs
The value of the food bought outside the home across the island rose 5.2% over the last year, new data from Bord Bia shows. It brought the total turnover in the food service industry in Ireland and Northern Ireland to €9.8bn, the highest level in the sector over the past decade. However, the Irish food […]
Motorists must provide driver number to insurer under new measure
Motorists will have to provide their driver number to their insurer when taking out a policy from next year. The new measure, which comes into effect on March 31st, will also require the driver numbers of named drivers to be provided. The development follows the signing of a commencement order by the Minister for Transport, […]