Can Willpower Really Curb Christmas Overspending?
Every December brings the same familiar pattern. Days grow darker, routines get busier, and spending climbs far faster than many households anticipate. Surveys indicate that Irish consumers spent close to €1,200 on average last Christmas, with a significant number dipping into savings or turning to borrowing to cover festive costs. The pressures of the season […]
Electric Flying Taxis Could Serve London Airports by 2028
Air travel in and out of London may look very different within the next few years. A UK aviation company has announced plans to introduce electric flying taxis for airport passengers as early as 2028, signalling a significant shift in short-distance air mobility. Vertical Aerospace is working toward regulatory approval for its new Valo aircraft, […]
Construction Sector Activity Continues to Contract in November
New figures from the latest AIB Purchasing Managers’ Index indicate that construction activity in Ireland declined again in November, marking the seventh consecutive month of contraction. The continued drop reflects persistent weakness in demand and a slowdown in new project inflows. The headline Construction Total Activity Index fell to 46.7 in November, down from 48.1 […]
Government measures improve financial viability of new apartment developments, according to SCSI analysis
A new assessment by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland indicates that recent policy changes have strengthened the financial viability of apartment construction. The study suggests that Government interventions introduced after a slowdown in apartment delivery have altered the economics of the sector in a noticeable way. Before any State assistance was applied, only two […]
CCPC reports declining competition across parts of Ireland’s services sector
A new analysis from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has highlighted a notable weakening of competitive pressures across several key segments of the Irish services sector. The findings form part of the CCPC’s State of Competition in Ireland programme, which is reviewing developments in non-financial services over a fifteen-year period from 2008 to 2022. […]
Construction sector activity continues to contract as demand weakens
Ireland’s construction industry recorded another month of declining activity in November, marking the seventh consecutive month of contraction, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index from AIB. The data signals ongoing pressure across the sector, with firms reporting a continued drop in new orders and subdued demand for building projects. The headline Construction Total Activity […]
Irish Internet Banking Usage Climbs to 94 Percent as Digital Reliance Deepens
New data from the Central Statistics Office indicates that Irish households continue to increase their use of online services, with internet banking reaching its highest level of adoption to date. The CSO’s latest Household Digital Consumer Behaviour report, covering the second quarter of the year, highlights a continued shift toward digital habits across nearly all […]
Report Highlights Higher Living Standards in the Republic Compared with Northern Ireland
A new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute has found that living standards in the Republic of Ireland exceed those in Northern Ireland across several key economic and social indicators. The report shows a clear income gap. In 2022 the average household in the Republic had disposable income of €36,900, compared with €33,400 […]
Ireland’s Multinational Surge Drives Record Growth and Tax Returns
Ireland’s economic momentum has accelerated significantly this year, propelled largely by the extraordinary performance of the multinational sector. A combination of booming pharmaceutical activity, strong technology exports and robust domestic conditions has resulted in one of the strongest periods of growth the country has experienced in recent years. Pharmaceutical exports have been a standout factor. […]
Euro Zone Inflation Edges Higher as ECB Holds Steady on Rates
Inflation across the euro zone rose slightly in the latest figures, reinforcing expectations that the European Central Bank will maintain its current interest rate stance for the foreseeable future. New data from Eurostat shows annual inflation increasing to 2.2 percent from 2.1 percent, keeping it close to the ECB’s target for most of the year. […]
Irish Workers Slow to Adopt AI Tools Despite Recognised Benefits
A new survey from PwC suggests that although Irish workers are aware of the potential advantages of artificial intelligence, daily usage of these tools remains limited. The firm’s latest Workforce Hopes and Dreams report found that only 10 percent of employees in Ireland use generative AI each day, a lower proportion than the global average […]
Irish Adults Favour Short to Mid-Term Saving as Investment Uptake Remains Limited
New research into personal finance habits shows that most adults in Ireland maintain savings or deposit accounts alongside their current accounts. The survey, commissioned by Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, indicates that three quarters of respondents have set money aside, although the amounts vary widely. A significant proportion of those with savings hold smaller balances. […]
Employer registration opens for new ‘My Future Fund’ pension scheme
Employers can now begin registering for Ireland’s new pension auto enrolment system, My Future Fund, ahead of its formal launch on 1 January. The scheme is designed to bring hundreds of thousands of workers who currently have no occupational pension into retirement saving for the first time, and it places clear new obligations on employers. […]
Could cash regain importance under Ireland’s new access-to-cash law?
New legislation aimed at protecting access to cash has now come into force, placing clear obligations on financial institutions to maintain ATM availability nationwide. The measure responds to growing concerns about the disappearance of cash services, particularly in rural communities affected by branch and post office closures. While the use of digital payments has accelerated […]
Irish Life Health announces further price rise from January 2026
Irish Life Health has confirmed that it will apply another round of premium increases from January 2026, with prices rising by an average of 5 per cent across its policy range. The change will affect both new customers and existing members whose renewals fall due from the start of the year. This marks the fourth […]
Consumers warned to stay alert as online scams surge during Black Friday sales
As the Black Friday and Cyber Monday season gets underway, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is urging shoppers to exercise strong caution amid a rise in sophisticated online scams. The agency’s latest research indicates that nearly a quarter of consumers plan to buy during the sales period, creating fertile ground for fraudsters seeking to […]
Mortgage approvals reach strongest levels in years, driven by first-time buyer demand
New data from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland shows a significant rebound in mortgage activity, with 45,500 approvals issued between January and October, representing a combined value of €14.6 billion. This is the highest volume recorded since 2022 and the highest value captured since the series began in 2011. The strongest growth came from first-time […]
Bank of Ireland to launch pilot loan to help homeowners trade down
Bank of Ireland has announced plans to pilot a new lending product designed to support homeowners who wish to trade down. The initiative, scheduled to launch in early 2026, will be available to all homeowners regardless of whether they are existing customers of the bank. The bank said the new loan is part of a […]