IDA consults pharma firms over EU retaliatory tariffs on the US
IDA Ireland sought the views of Irish-based pharmaceutical companies on the EU’s draft list of retaliatory measures to US tariffs earlier this year as part of the Government’s response to the European Commission on the proposals. The European Union published a list of imports from the US which could face tariffs as part of the […]
EPA warns Ireland going backwards on greenhouse gas emissions targets
Ireland has gone backwards in its attempts to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions targets, according to an updated analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The latest greenhouse gas emissions projections from the EPA said emissions could fall by up to 23% by 2030 if every climate policy and measures currently planned by the Government […]
Average weekly earnings surpass €1,000 for first time in Q1 – CSO
Average weekly earnings surpassed €1,000 in the first three months of this year, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office. Weekly earnings were up 5.6% from €972 in the first quarter of 2024 to €1,026 in the first three months of this year. The figures cover all sectors across the economy excluding agriculture […]
Euro could become the dollar’s alternative, Lagarde says
The euro could become a viable alternative to the dollar, earning the 20-nation bloc immense benefits, if governments could only strengthen the bloc’s financial and security architecture, ECB President Christine Lagarde said today. Unnerved by erratic US economic policy, global investors have been reducing their exposure to dollar assets in recent months but many have […]
Tourism may help support long-term economic growth – BPFI SME Monitor
A new report shows that while export-driven economic growth in the first quarter of this year may not be sustainable, efforts to boost domestic tourism should help to sustain employment and support more balanced growth. But the latest SME Monitor from Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) also shows that cost pressures and price increases […]
EU and US agree to fast track trade talks after phone call
The European Commission has said that President Ursula Von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump have agreed to fast track trade negotiations and to stay in close contact following last night’s phone call. Mr Trump has said he would pause his threatened 50% tariffs on the European Union until 9 July, after a “very […]
15% of households couldn’t cope with a financial emergency
How would your household deal with an unexpected financial emergency costing €1,000? That was a question posed as part of this month’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment survey. Just over a third of consumers say that they would use savings, while 18% say they would use their income, and 15% say they would be unable to […]
Oil edges up after Trump extends EU trade talks deadline to July
Oil prices recorded limited gains today after US President Donald Trump extended a deadline for trade talks with the European Union, easing concerns about US tariffs on the bloc that could hurt the global economy. Brent crude futures rose 18 cents, or 0.28%, to $64.96 a barrel early this morning while US West Texas Intermediate […]
VC funding into Irish SMEs soars in first quarter to €533m
Venture capital funding into Irish SMEs jumped to €532.8m in the first quarter of 2025, new figures from the Irish Venture Capital Association Venture Pulse survey shows. This was a record for a first quarter and marked a year-to-year increase of over 100%. The survey is carried out in association with William Fry. It showed […]
Bitcoin rises to new record high, eclipses January top
The price of Bitcoin rose to its highest level on record today, eclipsing the previous high from January, as risk sentiment continues to improve after last month’s tariff-induced sell-off. The world’s largest cryptocurrency touched a high of $109,481.83, a 2% gain on the day. Bitcoin, at times, trades in a similar fashion to tech stocks […]
Bank of Ireland raises its home building target
Bank of Ireland Group is aiming to support the construction of 30,000 homes across Ireland through debt and equity finance as it increases its target for the funding of home building. Bank of Ireland is currently supporting the construction of more than 24,000 homes, across all housing types, on 220 sites in 22 counties. It […]
Number of people in employment rises to 2.8 million – CSO
The estimated number of people in employment in the first quarter of 2025 stood at just under 2.8 million, up 3.3% compared with a year ago. The latest Labour Force Survey from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) also shows that there was an increase in the unemployment rate in the first three months of the […]
Annual house price growth slows to 7.5% in March – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that residential property prices rose by 7.5% in the year to March, down from the 8% rise recorded in the previous month. The CSO said the median price of a home bought in the 12 months to March was €362,500. The highest median price was €665,000 in […]
Retailers welcome EU plan to add €2 fee to packages from outside the bloc
Irish retailers have welcomed a European Union proposal to add a €2 flat fee on all packages coming from outside the bloc. Yesterday EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič told the European Parliament that ecommerce platforms outside the EU would be expected to add the fee, which would go towards the costs customs officials face in […]
UK inflation jumps to higher-than-expected 3.5% in April, ONS says
Britain suffered a bigger-than-expected inflation surge in April, including in areas watched closely by the Bank of England which investors now believe will have to slow its already gradual pace of interest rate cuts. Inflation leapt to 3.5% in April from 2.6% in March, the Office for National Statistics said, the highest reading since January […]
15% rise in motor liability claims by pedestrians in 2024
There was a 15% rise in motor liability claims among pedestrians last year, while motorcyclists account for just 2% of personal injury claims but represent one in ten fatal claims. Those are among the findings from the Injuries Resolution Board’s latest report, which reviews motor liability accidents and claims in Ireland between 2019 and 2024. […]
Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions at lowest level in 30 years
Greenhouse gas emissions from Ireland’s usage of energy are now at their lowest level for more than 30 years after falling for a third consecutive year. The reduction was 1.3% in 2024. This means energy emissions in Ireland are now 11% lower than when carbon emissions targets were introduced in 2021. Director of Research and […]
ECB’s Knot says inflation picture for June meeting still unclear
ECB policymakers will need to get a clearer picture of the effects of US and EU trade policies on inflation before they can decide whether interest rates need to be cut in June, ECB governing council member Klaas Knot said. “I can’t exclude we will decide to have another rate cut in June, but I […]