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House construction growth could stall in 2024 – BNPPRE

Construction activity continued to contract in February, but at a slower pace than a month earlier, new data shows. The BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland Construction Index climbed to 47.4, up from 45.9 in January. With any score under 50 representing a contraction, that was the weakest rate of decline in five months. Residential construction […]

A fifth of motorists are planning to get rid of their car, survey finds

One in every five car owners are planning to get rid of their car over the coming years, new research has found. The rising cost of running a car is among the big drivers, the survey discovered, with almost two thirds citing this as an influence on their decision. However, just over three quarters said […]

ECB rate cut coming, but not just yet, says Governing Council’s Kazimir

The European Central Bank is increasingly confident that inflation is coming down, but should still hold off on an interest rate cut until June, Slovak Governing Council member Peter Kazimir said today. The ECB held rates unchanged at a record high last week, but its chief Christine Lagarde said discussions over easing policy have begun […]

Live Register figures down 1.2% in February – CSO

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the seasonally adjusted Live Register total for February fell by 1.2% to 174,600 people, a decrease of 2,100 from January. The CSO said the unadjusted Live Register total stood at 173,982 people for February. Today’s figures show that 35-44 age group made up the largest number […]

New wind farm a ‘significant step’ in meeting renewable energy targets

The Chief Executive of Bord na Móna has said the Oweninny Wind Farm, which is set to be Ireland’s largest onshore wind farm, represents a “significant step” towards meeting the country’s renewable energy targets. The Oweninny project is a joint venture between ESB and Bord na Móna representing a total investment of €320m. Wind energy […]

78% of consumers feel they are “doing what they can” to be sustainable

Three quarters of Irish consumers feel they are doing as much as they can, within their means, to be sustainable, a new survey from EY has found. The research also discovered that more than half of Irish households think energy providers and Government should take the leading role in the shift to cleaner energy. Just […]

Central Bank launches consultation on new consumer code

Enhanced clarity, predictability and accessibility on consumer protection obligations are among the key aims of a new Consumer Protection Code being developed by the Central Bank. As part of the process, the regulator has launched a consultation paper on its plans today. Among the proposals is a requirement for firms to incorporate customers’ interests into […]

China’s trade surges in first two months of 2024

China’s exports sharply accelerated in the first two months of 2024, official figures showed today, providing policymakers a bright spot as they battle to revive the world’s second-largest economy. Overseas shipments have long served as a key driver of the country’s economic growth, providing vast amounts of jobs for the manufacturing sector. In January and […]

NAMA on track to complete wind-down by 2025

Finance Minister Michael McGrath has today confirmed that NAMA will complete its wind-down by the end of 2025 while the Special Liquidation of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) is on track to “substantially” conclude by the end of this year. The National Asset Management Agency was set up in 2009 to clean the property crash […]

Tax take rises to €12bn so far this year, driven by income tax, excise and VAT receipts

The State collected €12 billion in taxes in the first two months of the year, new figures from the Department of Finance show. That is up 5.5% or €600 million on the same period last year. The increase was driven by income tax, excise and VAT receipts. However, the Department said a technical factor with […]

Cabinet approves new legislation to allow workers stay in job until 66

Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney has received approval from the Cabinet for legislation which will allow workers to stay in their job until they reach the State Pension age, currently at 66. The General Scheme of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2023 strikes out any mandatory retirement age which is below […]

Service sector growth picks up in February, PMI survey shows

The service sector here grew at its fastest pace in five months in February after slowing to a near standstill a month earlier, as firms reported rising levels of new business across all sectors, a survey showed today. The AIB Global S&P Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 54.4 from 50.5 in January. The index […]

Euro zone business activity moves closer to recovery – PMI

Business activity in the euro zone showed signs of recovery last month as the bloc’s dominant services industry expanded for the first time since July, offsetting a deeper contraction in manufacturing, a survey showed today. HCOB’s composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the bloc, compiled by S&P Global and seen as a good guide of […]

Ireland lagging on retail payments Central Bank warns

Ireland lags other part of Europe when it comes to retail payments, the Central Bank has claimed. The result is an unsatisfactory situation for both consumers and businesses the regulator has said. The comments were made by the bank’s deputy governor, Vasileios Madouros, at the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) organised National Payments […]

OECD warns of urgent need to take action on disinformation

A new OECD report has found that there is an urgent need to take stock of anti-disinformation policies in countries around the world and to set a path for action. The study, ‘Facts not Fake: Tackling Disinformation, Strengthening Information Integrity’, warns that rising disinformation has far‑reaching consequences in many policy areas ranging from public health […]

Service sector growth picks up in February, PMI survey shows

The service sector here grew at its fastest pace in five months in February after slowing to a near standstill a month earlier, as firms reported rising levels of new business across all sectors, a survey showed today. The AIB Global S&P Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 54.4 from 50.5 in January. The index […]

Cabinet to discuss energy top-up payment for businesses

Businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors are in line for a top-up payment of up to €3,000 in the Energy Efficiency Grant, under proposals Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney will bring to the Cabinet. Businesses in these sectors, who employ up to 50 people, are already eligible for a capital grant of up to […]

Grocery price inflation falls for 10th month in a row

Grocery price inflation fell for the tenth month in a row in February, new figures show today, with the decline expected to continue during the rest of the year. The latest figures from global retail market analyst Kantar show that grocery price inflation fell to 4.7% in the 12 weeks to February 18 from a […]