Asking prices for homes fall for third consecutive quarter – MyHome.ie
New data from property listings website MyHome.ie has found that asking prices for homes fell by 0.3% in the first three months of the year when compared to the previous quarter. The drop marks the third consecutive quarter that advertised prices for homes around the country have fallen. Nationally, though, listed prices are still up […]
Manufacturing activity weakens amid drop in new orders
Activity in the manufacturing sector weakened in March, as demand dropped, new figures show today. The latest Purchasing Managers Index from AIB shows that new orders and factory production fell. On a more positive note, price and supply pressures eased. The index dropped to 49.7, from 51.3 in February. Readings above 50 indicate overall growth […]
Company profits driving up inflation more than higher wages – ECB
A European Central Bank staff paper published today says bigger company profits are driving inflation more than higher wages. The paper – “How tit-for-tat inflation can make everyone poorer” – makes clear that both higher wages and higher profit margins are pushing up prices in the euro area. This is in response to higher energy […]
New legal association launched for media, internet and data protection
The Bar of Ireland has launched the Media, Internet and Data Protection Bar Association (MIDBA). It is a new Specialist Bar Association aimed at legal professionals who practice, or have an interest, in the areas of media, internet and data protection law. The aim of MIDBA is to promote and advance knowledge in what are […]
Inflation rate estimated at 7% in March, down from 8.1% in February – CSO
Inflation in Ireland, as measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, is estimated to have moderated to an annual rate of 7% in March, the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show. This compares to a rate of 8.1% in February and is the slowest annual rate of inflation since March 2022. The […]
IFAC recommends Govt sets up State pension fund
The Government has been urged by budgetary watchdog the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council to take steps now to ensure State and public sector pensions are funded into the future. IFAC warns that otherwise tensions will arise when a smaller, younger, working population will have to pay more to fund a larger retired population. It recommends […]
Migrant employment harder hit by Covid restrictions – ESRI
Migrant labour market outcomes were more affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions than those of Irish-born workers, a new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute has found. However, by early 2022, the migrant employment rate of 77% was higher than the 72% rate among Irish-born workers. It also exceeded […]
ICTU welcomes passage of Work Life Balance Bill
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has welcomed the passage of the Work Life Balance Bill by both Houses of the Oireachtas. The legislation will introduce a range of measures to improve family-friendly work practices including giving parents and carers the right to request flexible work. It will also introduce unpaid leave for medical […]
Economy facing risk of overheating this year – ESRI
The economy is set to grow more strongly this year than had been expected and may even overheat, according to the latest quarterly bulletin from the Economic and Social Research Institute. It expects the domestic economy to grow by 3.8% this year while inflation will moderate to 4.5%. Record levels of employment could stretch the […]
Small firms conned out of €8m through fraud last year
Small firms were conned out of €8m last year as a result of cases of invoice and so-called CEO impersonation fraud. The Banking and Payments Federation Ireland’s (BPFI) FraudSMART campaign is warning businesses of a heightened risk of financial scams, particularly because of the increasing prevalence of working from home. Recent research by the Small […]
Financial literacy levels here lag other countries – Bank of Ireland study
Financial literacy levels in Ireland appear to lag those in other comparable jurisdictions, a study carried out on behalf of Bank of Ireland concludes. The survey of over 1,000 adults here, which was conducted by Red C, found that Ireland had an average financial literacy score of 54%. The most recent directly comparable international studies […]
Irish base for EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority to be considered
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath will today seek Cabinet approval for Ireland to apply to become the base for the new EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA). The AMLA, set to be established in 2024, will be a major EU institution tasked with overseeing compliance with anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism rules and standards. […]
Over 60,000 homes could be built on State-owned land – report
More than 60,000 homes could be built on State-owned land, according to a report going to Cabinet this morning. The Report on Public Land identifies 83 State-owned sites with the potential for up to 67,000 homes in the medium to long-term. The work compiled by the Land Development Agency indicates that land in the cities […]
Total value of Irish pensions fell almost 16% in 2022
The total value of Irish pensions fell by almost 16% last year, according to new figures. Rising interest rates and the geo-political uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine wiped significant value off pension funds around the globe. At the end of 2022 Irish pension assets were worth around €157 billion, having increased by an […]
80% rise in home energy upgrades last year – SEAI
The Government supported almost 27,200 home energy upgrades or retrofits last year through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The SEAI says this is an 80% increase on 2021. The National Retrofit Plan has set a target of 500,000 homes upgraded to a B2 energy rating by 2030. Cutting emissions from heating homes is key […]
Interest rates on some State savings products to rise
The interest rates on a range of medium to long-term State savings products are to increase, on foot of several hikes of European Central Bank interest rates since last July. New issues of State Savings Fixed Rate, Savings Certificates, Instalment Savings and 10 Year National Solidarity Bond products are to take place. Shorter term products […]
Overall gas demand down 11% in February from January
Mild weather February saw the country’s overall gas demand fall by 11% compared to January, and decrease by 25% in the residential sector month on month. Demand for gas increased by 7% in February compared to the same month last year, new figures from Gas Network Ireland shows today. Gas was the main source of […]
35% of consumers struggling to cope with inflation – study
The latest monthly Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey has found that 35% of consumers said they are struggling to cope with the impact of inflation on their household finances. Over 55% of respondents said inflation has caused a worsening in their financial circumstances, but they are managing to cope and just 7% said they were […]