Office leasing in Dublin falls in first quarter
There was a drop in the amount of office space leased in Dublin in the first quarter of the year, new data shows. Research from commercial real estate company JLL Irelands shows that 31 deals were completed, across 96,000 sq. ft of office space. The volume of space is down 44% on the previous quarter […]
Govt publishes bill paving way for pension auto-enrolment
The Government has published a bill which will pave the way for 800,000 workers to be brought into a pension scheme for the first time. Publishing the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said this represents one of the biggest reforms of the pension system in the history […]
Service sector grows at fastest pace in eight months
The service sector grew at its fastest pace in eight months in March, new figures show. The latest AIB Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reveals that the index reached 56.6, up from 54.4 in February. Readings above 50 indicate overall growth in activity. “The acceleration in activity was broad-based and points to improving business conditions throughout […]
Euro zone inflation unexpectedly eases, boosting rate cut case
Euro zone inflation fell unexpectedly last month, solidifying the case for the European Central Bank to start lowering borrowing costs from record highs. Consumer price growth in the euro zone slowed to 2.4% in March from 2.6% a month earlier, defying expectations for a steady rate as food, energy and industrial goods prices all pulled […]
Drop in injury claims’ costs but premiums rise by 8% – NCID report
The average cost of settling public and employer liability claims through the Injuries Resolution Board dropped by a third in 2022 compared to 2020, according to a new report. However, average insurance premiums increased by 8% in 2022. The data is in the latest National Claims Information Database (NCID), published by the Central Bank. New […]
Unions join forces in call for major reforms of workers’ rights
Several of Ireland’s largest trade union groups have joined forces calling for a major reform of workers’ rights. The Respect at Work campaign says there should be cross party-political support guaranteeing greater protections for employees in the workplace. SIPTU, the Financial Services Union, Mandate Trade Union and the Communication Workers’ Union are all backing the […]
Inflation falls below 2% for first time since June 2021 – flash CSO reading
Annual inflation in Ireland fell below the euro zone-wide target of 2% for the first time in almost three years after slowing to 1.7% in March, a flash estimate of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) from the Central Statistics Office shows. Irish inflation peaked at almost 10% year-on-year in the middle of 2022 […]
ECB’s Holzmann says warming to June rate cut but keeping an eye on Fed
The European Central Bank could start cutting interest rates in June as inflation may fall quicker than expected but should not get too far ahead of its US counterpart, as that diminishes the potency of easing, Austrian policymaker Robert Holzmann said. Euro area inflation has tumbled over the past year and economic growth stalled, shifting […]
Manufacturing contracts again in March – PMI
The manufacturing sector contracted in March after briefly returning to growth a month earlier, a survey showed today, with confidence among firms also slumping to the lowest level in more than three years. The AIB S&P Global manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell back below the 50 mark denoting growth to 49.6, compared with 52.2 […]
Pension auto-enrolment: What is it and what will it cost?
After decades of discussion and debate, the prospect of workers being automatically added into a private pension scheme took a step closer this week. On Wednesday the Cabinet approved a Bill that is designed to create an auto-enrolment pension system in Ireland. Following the lead of Britain, New Zealand and Italy, amongst others, the scheme […]
Cost of second hand homes in Dublin rise 1.9% in first quarter
The average price of a used property in Dublin rose 1.9% between January and March compared to the previous three months, new data from DNG shows. That’s more than twice the level of growth recorded in the city in the same month of last year and leaves the average price of a resale property in […]
Price increases in store for consumers from Monday
Inflation in Ireland has fallen significantly in recent months, but a number of cost increases will weigh on consumers from next Monday. From midnight on 1 April, the cost of petrol, diesel and marked fuel oil (green diesel) will rise. It is the latest step by Government to restore excise rates to the levels they […]
Cabinet approves Bill to introduce pension auto-enrolment
Draft legislation designed to set up the new pension auto-enrolment system has been approved by the Cabinet. If enacted, the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill will result in up to 800,000 private sector workers, who currently do not have a pension, becoming automatically enrolled in one. The aim of the plan is to extend […]
€10m paid out so far under €125m mortgage interest relief scheme
Just €10m has so far been paid out in mortgage interest relief under the Government scheme announced in the budget, despite €125m being allocated for it. 12,107 PAYE taxpayers have made a claim for the assistance, which is designed to help those who struggled with mortgage repayments last year because of rising interest rates. Of […]
ESRI forecasts return to growth in household incomes this year as inflation falls
The ESRI has upgraded its outlook for economic growth this year, amid falling inflation, an expected normalisation of exports and moderate expansion of the domestic economy. In its Quarterly Economic Commentary, the institute forecasts that the domestic economy as measured by Modified Domestic Demand will grow by 2.3% in 2024, up from its prediction of […]
Record levels of first-time mortgages approved in Feb
Mortgage approvals for first-time buyers hit a record annualised high in February. Figures from Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) show that in the year to the end of last month, first time buyers were given the green light for mortgages worth a total of almost €9 billion. During the month itself, 3,582 mortgages […]
Bill to introduce pension auto-enrolment scheme to go before Cabinet for approval
The Minister for Social Protection will seek Cabinet approval today for draft legislation designed to set up the new pension auto-enrolment system. If enacted, the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill will result in up to 800,000 private sector workers, who currently do not have a pension, becoming automatically enrolled in one. The aim of […]
Consumer sentiment falls in March amid ongoing caution
Consumer sentiment dropped again this month, new research has found, amid ongoing caution and concern. The Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index found rising living costs and another increase in fuel prices are weighing on spending plans. Sentiment fell to 69.5 in March, from 70.2 in February, which in turn was lower than January. The report’s […]