Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme rates reduced from today
Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme rates will be reduced from today as part of a plan to gradually wind it down. However, business groups and the opposition have called for the support to continue at the full rate because of the impact the most recently imposed Covid-19 restrictions are having on certain sectors. Last month, 25,900 […]
Retail sales dip in October but outstrip pre-Covid levels
Retail sales fell by 1.7% in October compared to the previous month but were 9% up on pre-pandemic levels in the same time of 2019, new Central Statistics Office figures show today. The highest increases compared to 2019 levels were seen in the electrical goods, furniture and lighting and food, beverages and tobacco categories, which […]
Climate action: Consumers want more financial incentives
Most consumers want to take action on climate change, but believe it will cost them financially to do so. That’s according to new research by Permanent TSB and Kantar. It reveals that consumers want to see more financial incentives introduced, to help them transition to a more eco-friendly way of living. In particular, the research […]
Mortgage approvals slow in October – BPFI
New figures from Banking Payments Federation Ireland show a slowdown in mortgage approvals in October both on a monthly and annual basis. BPFI said a total of 4,568 mortgages were approved in October, which marked a monthly fall of 4.2% and a yearly drop of 12.3%. Of these mortgages, 2,533 were for first time buyers, […]
Can we expect pay hikes next year to offset rising prices?
Economists differ at the moment over whether the pace of price increases that we are seeing is temporary, or ‘transient’ as they like to put it. Some argue that the rate at which prices are going up is being influenced by the reopening of the economy as the pandemic restrictions are lifted and what we […]
Is it time for Ulster and KBC Bank customers to switch?
If you are a customer of Ulster Bank or KBC, you may want to start thinking about what bank you will switch to when they withdraw from the Irish market. While both banks say no action is required at the moment, it is worth being prepared well in advance of the closures. Ulster Bank has […]
Consumer and business confidence drops, BoI data shows
Consumer and business confidence dropped this month, amid rising Covid cases and Brexit setbacks. That is according to the latest Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse, which has fallen to its lowest reading in eight months. The survey gathers the views of households and businesses on topics such as finances, spending plans, house prices and business […]
No changes to Central Bank’s mortgage rules
The Central Bank has left its mortgage rules unchanged after its annual review was published today. However, it will now let banks carry forward above-limit loans approved from one calendar year to the next. The Central Bank also announced its intention to introduce new rules for property funds. The mortgage rules are part of the […]
Ireland’s skills strategy to be reviewed as part of OECD process
Ireland’s Skills Strategy is to be reviewed as part of a joint project between the state, stakeholders in the skills sector and the OECD. The review, led by the OECD, will focus on how Ireland is equipped to meet current and future skills needs as well as examining how businesses and employees can be supported […]
World markets fall as new virus variant sparks panic
European stocks sank over 3% this morning as reports of a newly identified and possibly vaccine resistant coronavirus variant stoked fears of a fresh hit to global economy and drove investors out of riskier assets. Cyclical-heavy European stock markets have already been under stress this week as a resurgence in Covid-19 cases prompted new restrictions […]
Euro zone governments urged to keep spending next year
Euro zone governments should keep spending next year to help the post-pandemic recovery, though to different degrees depending on their debt level, the European Commission said today. They should also use cash from the EU’s recovery fund to boost investment, the Commission added. “For the euro area, we call for a moderately supportive fiscal stance […]
First-time buyers getting older, mortgage drawdowns increase – study
Just over a quarter of first-time buyers of homes were aged 30 or under last year, according to an analysis of data carried out by the Banking and Payments Federation. That represents a halving of the proportion in 2004 when six in ten people taking out mortgages for the first time were in that age […]
Half of restaurants adopted new tech during pandemic
Almost half of restaurant and takeaway owners have adopted new technologies since the start of the pandemic, according to new research by Irish food ordering software developer Flipdish. 44% of those businesses invested over €1,500 to do so. The most popular technology adaptations were website ordering and QR code table ordering technology. The research reveals […]
Donohoe publishes terms of reference for banking review
The Minister for Finance has published the terms of reference for a “broad-ranging” review into the retail banking sector, which will consider services provided by both banks and non-banks, as the latter becomes more active in the provision of SME credit and mortgage lending. Back in July, Paschal Donohoe said his department would conduct such […]
Entertainment sector calls for introduction of supports
A spokesperson for the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland has appealed directly to the Taoiseach to intervene and introduce supports for the industry. On RTÉ’s Drivetime, Matt McGranaghan called for the immediate reinstatement of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, or an equivalent support, for those in the music industry who were forced off the payments […]
Truckers, hauliers holding Dublin protest over fuel costs
A group of truckers and hauliers are leading convoys from the main motorways around Dublin into the city centre today, protesting for “lower fuel costs at the pump and at home”. The group, describing itself as Irish Truckers Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices, said it is protesting for “lower fuel costs at the pump and […]
Over 70% worried about rising prices of everyday items
74% of consumers are concerned about rising prices for everyday items, according to Deloitte Ireland’s latest consumer tracker survey. Over half of respondents said they believe the cost of groceries have gone up over the last month, while 46% think prices in restaurants have risen. Overall, the survey reveals that consumers’ financial concerns have increased […]
Consumer confidence drops as Covid cases surge
Consumer confidence has dropped to a seven-month low as Covid cases continue to surge, according to the latest KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment index. The reading for November declined to 83.1, from 86.8 in October. That is the largest monthly fall since January and brings the sentiment index to its lowest level since April. As […]