Big increase in AI usage in workplaces – Ibec
New research from business group Ibec has found a big increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces. The study shows that in July 2025, 40% of employees reported using AI in their workplace tasks compared with 19% in August 2024. The use of AI in specific roles rose from 12% in 2024 […]
Overpaying? How to switch your mortgage and save
Mortgages aren’t meant to be set in stone – and sticking with the same one for years could mean leaving thousands of euro on the table. Whether your fixed rate is about to expire or you’re just wondering if you could do better, switching your mortgage could be a smart financial move. But how do […]
Central Bank’s Israeli bond authorisation expires today
The Central Bank’s controversial authorisation of documentation issued to investors in Israeli bonds expires today. The bank has been under intense pressure from campaigners and opposition to refuse to rubber stamp prospectuses issued by Israel. However, the bank says it is legally obliged to approve the documentation if it meets requirements. The bank last night […]
AA Ireland survey reveals dip in petrol and diesel prices
AA Ireland’s latest monthly fuel price survey shows that the cost of both petrol and diesel eased in August. The price of unleaded petrol now averages €1.70 a litre, down from €1.73 in July, while the average diesel price stood at €1.68 per litre, down from €1.69 in July. AA Ireland also said that while […]
Erosion of Fed independence would lead to higher inflation, ECB’s Rehn says
Erosion of Fed independence would lead to higher inflation, ECB’s Rehn says US President Donald Trump’s escalating attacks on the Federal Reserve could have substantial and global knock-on effects on the financial markets and the real economy, including higher inflation, ECB policymaker Olli Rehn said today. Questions over the independence of the Fed, the world’s […]
American Bitcoin, backed by Trump’s sons, aims to start trading in September
American Bitcoin, the bitcoin miner backed by US President Donald Trump’s two sons, has locked in crypto and traditional investors to back an all-stock merger that will allow the firm to soon start trading on the Nasdaq, the company’s largest investor said. The unlisted firm’s merger with Gryphon Digital Mining is set to be finalised […]
TikTok owner ByteDance sets valuation at over $330 billion as revenue grows – sources
ByteDance, the owner of short-video app TikTok, is set to launch a new employee share buyback that will value the Chinese technology giant at more than $330 billion, driven by continued revenue growth, said three people with knowledge of the matter. The company plans to offer current employees $200.41 per share in the repurchase programme, […]
Tourism figures down by 1% in July compared to 2024, 2023
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that 646,400 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland in July, a decrease of 1% when compared with the same month in both 2024 and 2023. The CSO said the average length of stay for the tourists was 7.9 nights, down from an average of 8.1 nights […]
Vhi to increase prices by average of 3% from 1 October
Vhi, the country’s largest health insurer, is to increase the prices of its policies by an average of 3% from October. It is estimated the increase will mean an individual will pay between €15 and €80 extra per year for their health insurance, while a family plan could go up by around €180. Consumers will […]
EU claims ‘sovereign right’ to regulate tech after Trump threat
The European Commission asserted the “sovereign right” to regulate the activities of tech giants within the bloc and rejected claims by President Donald Trump that its rules unfairly harm US firms. Brussels has adopted a powerful legal arsenal aimed at reining in tech giants, particularly through the Digital Markets Act (DMA) covering competition and Digital […]
Housing body urges ‘ramp up’ of cost rental properties
The Chief Operations Officer at Tuath Housing has said there is a need to “ramp up social and cost rental supply” to provide security for the next generation. Bronagh D’Arcy said decisions taken in this year’s budget will be “critical” as the Approved Housing Body released its annual report today. It emphasises that demand continues […]
Number of derelict properties nationwide down 2.9% – report
The number of derelict properties around the country has fallen, according to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report. The analysis is based on a study of the stock of houses and apartments across Ireland. The report also showed the number of new addresses added to the database was up 33,000 in the 12 months to […]
Consumer sentiment improves slightly in August – survey
Consumer sentiment recovered in August from a near two-year low as concerns about the impact of tariffs on European Union exports to the US appeared to ease, a survey showed today. The Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey improved to 61.1 in August from 59.1 in July. The reading is below the 72.1 level posted in […]
Trump threatens tariffs on countries seen targeting US tech firms
US President Donald Trump has threatened further tariffs and export restrictions against countries that he says are targeting US tech firms. “Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. His comments appear targeted at European countries […]
Grocery inflation still rising, hitting 5.86% in August
New figures from Worldpanel by Numerator show that grocery inflation continued to rise in August, increasing from 5.43% to 5.86% now. Today’s figures show that shoppers contributed an additional €68.2m to the grocery market’s overall performance in August, due to several festivals, sell-out concerts and the Galway Races. Take-home value sales rose 6.2% over the […]
Dutch online bank Bunq fined for sloppy money laundering control
Dutch online bank Bunq has received a €2.6m fine for failures in its money laundering controls, Dutch central bank DNB said today. Bunq said it disagreed with DNB’s decision, to which it has formally objected. DNB said Bunq was fined in May for “serious shortcomings” in four cases between January 2021 and May 2022, in […]
German economy shrank 0.3% in second quarter as US tariffs slowed exports
German economy shrank 0.3% in second quarter as US tariffs slowed exports Germany’s economy shrank by 0.3% in the second quarter compared with the first three months of the year, as demand from its top trading partner the US slowed following months of buying ahead in anticipation of US tariffs. The statistics office today revised […]
Number of people at work rises by 2.3% in second quarter – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the estimated number of people in employment in the second quarter of this year stood at 2,818,100, an increase of 2.3% compared with the same time a year ago. The CSO said the 2.3% rise in the number of people in employment was equivalent to 63,900 […]