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 […]
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. […]
Ireland’s ties with US pose ‘notable downward risks’ to economy
Ireland’s deep economic ties to the US pose “notable downward risks” to the economy despite 3.4% GDP growth this year, according to the European Commission’s Spring economic forecast. The report warns that further US tariffs on pharmaceuticals could dampen investment and cause “significant downside risks” with the economy “vulnerable” to further protectionist policies by the […]
National semiconductor strategy targets 34,500 new jobs by 2040
The Government has launched a new national semiconductor strategy which aims to boost employment in the sector by 34,500 jobs by 2024. Semiconductors, sometimes referred to as microchips, are used in everything from smartphones and computers, to the latest quantum computing and AI technology. The semiconductor sector in Ireland currently has more than 130 indigenous […]
Breakthrough in EU-UK post-Brexit reset talks – officials
There has been a breakthrough in last minute talks to secure an agreement on an EU-UK post-Brexit reset, according to EU diplomats. EU member states are shortly expected to adopt a new agreement with the UK ahead of this afternoon’s London summit. Three draft texts have been presented to 27 EU ambassadors following talks between […]
80% of people got news from TV or radio in 2023 – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that 79.8% of people said they got information on news and current affairs from TV or radio on a typical day in 2023. This was followed by newspapers/magazines, both in print and online at 77.7%, and social media at 71.2%. The CSO figures form part of the […]
Asking prices for rents move above €2,000 for first time in first quarter – report
Average asking prices for rents nationally rose by 3.4% between January and March of this year, going above €2,000 for the first time, according to the latest report from property website Daft. The findings indicate the latest increase is one of the largest in any three months in the last two decades, with average prices […]