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 […]
Mortgage approvals down across all groups, except FTBs
The slowdown in the mortgage market is continuing, driven by a declining numbers of switchers and mover purchasers. The latest figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland show that just over 3,200 mortgages were approved in January – down almost 12% on the same month last year. Approvals dropped across all customer groups, with the […]
Manufacturing activity improves, production volumes rise
Business condition in the manufacturing sector improved in February, the latest AIB Purchasing Managers Index shows. It comes as production growth accelerated to the highest in 22 months, amid a renewed improvement in order books. The headline index increased to 52.2 from 49.5 in January – the first expansion in six months. Readings above 50 […]
Ireland ahead of US, Germany and France for remote working opportunities
More than 15% of job postings in Ireland offer remote or hybrid work opportunities, ranking the country ahead of Germany, France and the US, but behind the UK, Austria, Spain and Poland. According to new analysis from jobs site Indeed, Poland featured the highest proportion of remote ads at over 21%. The share percentage for […]
Central Bank warns of risks coming from payment and e-money sector
The Governor of the Central Bank has warned of the heightened risk level associated with both the payment and e-money sector and the investment fund sector. Gabriel Makhlouf said concerns about the payment and e-money sector reflect significant control weaknesses found in firms operating in this market, “where their rates of growth and ambition have […]
CEOs in Ireland more optimistic than in previous two years, research shows
CEOs in Ireland are more optimistic than in the previous two years as businesses adjust to geopolitical challenges, a new survey shows. The research carried out by business group Ibec reveals that 87% of respondents rate the outlook for the next six months as ‘good’ or ‘very good’, up from 66% last year. Meanwhile, 91% […]
ECB waiting for data before starting to cut interest rates
Inflation in the euro zone is expected to fall further but the European Central Bank needs more data before starting to cut interest rates, ECB Vice-President Luis de Guindos said today. The ECB has kept rates steady at a record high since September and consistently pushes back on rate cut talk, arguing that wage growth […]
Internet watchdog ‘not an online censor’, committee to hear
The Digital Services Commissioner at media regulator Coimisiún na Meán will tell an Oireachtas committee that it is not their job to act as an online censor. John Evans is due to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise to discuss the operation and resourcing of Coimisiún na Meán. Earlier this month, the regulator assumed […]