Growing chance of global growth falling below 2% – IMF chief
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva has warned that the chance of global growth dropping below 2% – last seen during the coronavirus outbreak and the global financial crisis of 2009 – is increasing as major economies slow. Her comments come as the world’s biggest economies grapple with fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which sent food […]
One in 4 consumers switch insurance providers – Central Bank
Eight out of 10 car and home insurance consumers engage with their provider on renewal and one in four switch, according to research conducted by the Central Bank of Ireland. The findings are included in an Economic Letter entitled, “Engagement, switching, and digital usage in consumer and insurance markets: who does it and why it […]
New tipping laws come into force today
New laws governing the practice of tipping come into force from today, providing a boost to workers’ rights. Under the Payment of Wages Act employees now have a legal entitlement to receive tips and gratuities paid in electronic form. The new law also requires that this money should be paid to workers in a manner […]
Firms to start reporting on gender pay gaps from today
Companies across Ireland will start to publish information on their gender pay gaps from today. Firms of all sizes are being mandated to produce a report outlining the differential in pay and bonuses between their male and female employees. Companies with 250 or more employees were asked to select a date in June this year […]
Euro zone inflation falls for first time in 17 months, bolstering hopes for smaller ECB hike
The annual rate of inflation across the euro area eased back to 10% in November, according to an initial ‘flash’ estimate from the EU’s statistical agency Eurostat. This compares to an annual rate of 10.6% recorded in October and is the first fall in the rate of inflation in 17 consecutive months. The main contributor […]
Euro zone economic sentiment rebounds in November
Euro zone economic sentiment rebounded in November slightly more than expected, data showed today, rising for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February on more optimism among consumers and in services. The European Commission said its economic sentiment indicator rose to 93.7 in November from 92.7 in October, marginally beating consensus […]
Average weekly earnings up 3.2% to €864 – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that average weekly earnings were €864.32 in third quarter of this year, up 3.2% on the same period last year. Over the past three years, weekly earnings rose by 12.4%, from €769.14 in the third quarter of 2019. Today’s data shows that average hourly earnings increased by […]
Paid sick leave entitlement on track for New Year
An entitlement to paid sick leave is scheduled to come into effect in the New Year after the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar signed the commencement order. From January, workers will be entitled to up to 3 days of sick leave in a year, paid at 70% of gross salary up to a cap of €110. The […]
Annual retail sales down for sixth month in a row – CSO
New Central Statistics Office figures show that the volume of retail sales rose by 0.7% in October but fell 2.6% on the same month last year. This marked the sixth month of annual decreases in a row. With inflation running at an almost 40-year high of 9.2%, the value of retail sales were 1.2% higher […]
New rights for consumers on faulty goods and services
New laws covering consumer rights around faulty goods and services, digital products and sale pricing take effect from today. The Consumer Rights Act introduces stronger rights of redress for faulty goods, including the straightforward option of cancelling a faulty purchase within 30 days for a full refund. Kevin O’Brien, member of the Competition and Consumer […]
ECB’s Lagarde says we haven’t reached inflation peak
Euro zone inflation has not peaked and the risk is that it will turn out even higher than currently expected, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said today. “We do not see the components or the direction that would lead me to believe that we’ve reached peak inflation and that it’s going to decline in […]
Christmas spend set to match last year – Retail Ireland
Irish households are expected to spend the same amount of money this Christmas as they did last, as the impact of the higher cost of living reins in spending. Retail Ireland estimates that each household will spend €978 more in December than they do in every other month. This adds up to around €5.39 billion […]
More small firms to be offered export help through LEOs
An extension by the Government of the mandate of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) will mean that thousands more small businesses here will be eligible for export grants. Under the move the LEOs will be able to give assistance directly to companies that have over ten employees which are operating in manufacturing and international traded services. […]
Euro zone credit growth remains brisk despite gloomy outlook
Bank lending to euro zone companies held steady, maintaining the sector’s biggest borrowing binge in over a decade, despite rising interest rates and a looming recession, European Central Bank data showed today. Lending to businesses in the 19-country euro area expanded by 8.9% in October, unchanged on September when it rose to its highest rate […]
Firms can register for energy support scheme tomorrow
The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS), which will assist businesses with their energy costs during the winter months, will open for registrations tomorrow – Saturday 26 November. The €1.2 billion scheme, which will be administered by Revenue, received approval from the European Commission yesterday. Businesses will be able to use the online system to […]
Busy day expected as Black Friday sales get under way
Originally an American construct, Black Friday was ideal for retailers and consumers in the United States to kick off the busy Christmas shopping period. In Ireland, where Christmas retail campaigns now begin just after Halloween, adopting Black Friday as an aid to sales seemed the obvious thing to do and it is now a fixture […]
ECB will increase rates again in December – Makhlouf
The Governor of the Central Bank has said the European Central Bank will increase interest rates at its meeting next month but he had “an open mind” on what scale that should be. Gabriel Makhlouf was speaking at the publication of the Central Bank’s Financial Stability Report today. The Financial Stability Report is published twice […]
Over €93 billion in tax generated by Govt in 2021, up 21% on 2020 revenue
Total tax revenue collected by the Exchequer in 2021 was €93.3 billion, according to the Central Statistics Office. This was €15.9 billion more or 21% higher than in 2020. Today’s figures are contained in a new CSO publication, which is different to the figures published monthly by the Department of Finance. It includes a wider […]