Author: splash

Annual rate of inflation steady at 1.5% in July – CSO flash reading

The latest “flash” estimate of inflation from the Central Statistics Office shows that the annual rate came in at 1.5% in the year to July, unchanged from a more than three-year low in June. The rate of 1.5% compares with an annual increase of 2.5% in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for the […]

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Increase in number of workers who can’t afford a holiday – study

There has been an increase in the number of workers in Ireland who cannot afford a week’s holiday away from home, either in their own country or abroad, according to new research. Analysis of EU data for the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has found that in 2022, an estimated 14.8% of Irish workers could […]

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Increase in job vacancies in second quarter – study

There was a 14.4% increase in professional job openings in the second quarter of the year compared to the previous quarter, according to new data. The latest Quarterly Employment Monitor from recruitment firm Morgan McKinley shows that the surge in vacancies was primarily observed during April and May, with a slight downturn in June. The […]

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Economy as measured by GDP grew by 1.2% in second quarter

The economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.2% between April and June when compared to the previous three months. That is according to an early estimate from the Central Statistics Office, which shows that this growth was mainly driven by the multinational dominated industry sector. When compared to the same quarter […]

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79% of FDI decision-makers planning Irish investment

Nearly 80% of foreign direct investment decision-makers are planning to establish or expand operations in Ireland over the next year. That is according to the latest EY Attractiveness Survey, and marks a significant improvement on the result from 2023. In last year’s survey just 53% of FDI decision-makers said they were planning an investment in […]

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Mortgage drawdowns rise 2.2%, approvals continue to fall

The number of mortgage drawdowns by first time buyers reached the highest level since 2007 between April and June, new data shows. The latest figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland show an overall moderation in mortgage activity. A total of 10,110 new mortgages to the value of over €2.85 billion were drawn down by […]

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Consumer sentiment hits 2 1/2 year high in July

The consumer mood has risen to its highest level in two and a half years, according to the latest Credit Union consumer sentiment index. Easing cost-of-living concerns and continued improvements in the economy have boosted consumers’ attitudes, according to the survey. That led to an across-the-board pick up in the index’s readings. Consumers were more […]

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Vessels at main Irish ports down 5% in first quarter – CSO

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that Irish ports handled 12.1 million tonnes of goods in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 2% compared with the same time last year. The CSO said that goods forwarded from Irish ports amounted to 3.8 million tonnes during January, February and March, while […]

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Commercial construction cost inflation flat in first half

Commercial construction inflation was 1.5% in the first half of the year, the same rate as the six months before that. It means that the annual median national rate of commercial construction inflation for the year to June was 3%. That’s more than of the half the rate of 6.2% recorded in the previous 12 […]

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Govt must do more to ensure Ireland remains competitive, watchdog warns

Ireland’s competitiveness watchdog has warned that the Government needs to do more to address significant longstanding challenges to securing the country’s ability to remain competitive into the medium to long-term, particularly in relation to infrastructure. In its flagship annual piece of research, Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2024, the council said that while compared to other EU […]

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