ECB cuts interest rates for eighth time in a year
The ECB has cut interest rates for the eighth time in a year by one-quarter of a percentage point, which brings its rate down from 2.25% to 2% The move will immediately benefit tracker mortgage customers and put downward pressure on other rates. With inflation now safely in line with its 2% target, today’s decision […]
Economic growth rises by 9.7% in first quarter of 2025
Economic growth, including the contribution from multinationals or Gross Domestic Product, soared by 9.7% in the first three months of this year as exports to the US ramped up ahead of tariffs being imposed by the Trump administration. The figures were affected by strong exports from the pharmaceutical sector in Ireland particularly in March. “The […]
Tax take to end of May up 3.6% on same time last year
Taxes collected by the State rose by 3.6% in the first five months of the year to €36.4bn, according to latest Exchequer Returns from the Department of Finance. When some funds from iPhone-maker Apple, which was forced to pay back taxes as part of settlement of up to €14bn to Ireland are included, the amount […]
Growth of activity picks up but outlook remains subdued
The pace of growth in the country’s services sector picked up in May, according to the latest purchasing managers index from AIB. The seasonally adjusted index rose from 52.8 in April to 54.7 last month – with any figure above 50 representing growth. But export growth was more subdued, while optimism around activity in the […]
European Central Bank expected to cut interest rates again
The European Central Bank is widely expected to cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point later today. The move would bring its main rate to 2% which would automatically benefit tracker mortgage customers and feed through to many other borrowers. The ECB’s move comes after inflation in the countries that use the […]
ECB gives Bulgaria green light to adopt euro next year
Bulgaria has met all criteria to adopt the euro currency from 1 January 2026, the European Central Bank said after assessing progress on a host of indicators from inflation to central bank legislation. “This positive assessment of convergence paves the way for Bulgaria to introduce the euro as of 1 January 2026 and become the […]
Euro zone inflation eases below ECB target, supporting rate cut bets
Euro zone inflation eased below the European Central Bank’s target last month on surprisingly benign services costs, underpinning expectations for further policy easing even as global trade tensions fuel longer-term price pressures. Consumer price inflation in the 20 countries sharing the euro slowed to 1.9% in May from 2.2% a month earlier, below expectations for […]
New car registrations down 8.8% in May, but EVs up 5.3% – SIMI
New figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show that while new car registrations overall slowed in May, the number of new electric car registrations increased. The SIMI figures show that new car registrations for May were down 8.8% to 5,832 from 6,398 the same month last year. However, registrations so far this […]
IDA says Ireland losing out due to high cost of energy
IDA Ireland said Ireland was losing ground to other EU countries and the US because of the high cost of energy. In a series of briefings for the Government, the investment agency said strong security of power supply was “imperative” for enticing companies into Ireland. It said the operating environment for foreign direct investment was […]
Manufacturing growth continues despite export challenges, PMI shows
The country’s manufacturing sector grew at a solid pace in May as strong domestic demand offset a second successive monthly decline in export orders due to subdued sales into the US and Britain, a new survey showed today. AIB’s Manufacturing PMI fell slightly to 52.6 from April’s 53, but was above the 50 threshold indicating […]
OECD cuts global 2025 growth forecast to 2.9% over tariffs
The OECD has slashed its annual global growth forecast today, warning that US President Donald Trump’s tariffs blitz will stifle the world economy – hitting the US especially hard. After 3.3% growth last year, the world economy is now expected to expand by a “modest” 2.9% in 2025 and 2026, the Paris-based Organisation for Economic […]
Ibec calls for increased public investment in research and innovation
Business group Ibec has warned that Ireland’s current public investment model for research and innovation does not match the country’s ambition to become a European Innovation Leader. In a new report published as part of its Business Ambition campaign, Ibec said Ireland must increase public investment in research and innovation to 1% of Gross National […]
US appeals court temporarily reinstates Trump’s tariffs
A US federal appeals court has reinstated the most sweeping of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a day after a trade court had ruled he had exceeded his authority in imposing the duties and had ordered an immediate block on them. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington’s order provided no […]
Mortgage approvals continued to grow in April
There were 2,922 first-time buyer (FTB) approvals valued at almost €1 billion (€965m) in April, according to the latest figures from the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland’s Mortgage Approvals Report. The report shows the highest April FTB levels since the data series began in 2011. The number of mortgages approved rose by 4.7% month-on-month […]
More than two-thirds of job applications rejected due to lack of relevant skills – survey
More than two-thirds of job applications are rejected due to a lack of relevant skills, according to new research from hiring platform IrishJobs. The Recruiter & Jobseeker Survey gathered insights from 553 recruiters and 738 jobseekers in Ireland to identify changing attitudes and actions on hiring processes. The study showed that 78% of employers are […]
Dublin Airport expecting 500,000 passengers this weekend
Dublin Airport is expecting almost half a million passengers over the coming bank holiday weekend. The airport is expecting more than 115,000 passengers every day between Friday and Monday, with a total of 480,000 set to pass through its two terminals. The four days between Friday and Monday will see almost 250,000 passengers departing from […]
US firms plan to pass Trump tariff costs to consumers: Fed minutes
US firms have warned the Federal Reserve that the cost of President Donald Trump’s tariffs will likely be borne by consumers, according to minutes of the bank’s most recent rate decision. Since returning to office in January, Trump has embarked on a stop-start tariff rollout that has unnerved investors and shaken global financial markets. The […]
Monthly retail sales rise by 1.1% in April – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the volume of retail sales rose by 1.1% in April compared to March, while retail sales were 3% higher on an annual basis compared to April 2024. Today’s CSO figures also reveal that the value of retail sales increased by 1.3% in April from March and […]