Author: splash

Manufacturing conditions continue to weaken amid fall in new orders

Business conditions in the manufacturing sector continued to weaken in October, new figures show. The latest Purchasing Managers Index from AIB reveals that activity weakened to the greatest extent in three months, driven by a fall in new orders and output. The index dropped to 48.2 from 49.6 in September, and 50.8 in August. Readings […]

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Inflation rate estimated to have slowed to 3.6% in October from 5% in September

There has been a significant slowing in the estimated annual rate of inflation in October. According to the latest “flash” estimate of inflation from the Central Statistics Office, the annual rate in October slowed to 3.6%. The last time the annual rate of inflation was lower than this was back in August 2021, just before […]

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Where next for interest rates as ECB pauses?

It has certainly been a busy eighteen months for the Monetary Policy Committee of the European Central Bank. Having spent several years repeating pretty much the same script, meeting after meeting, about leaving rates unchanged at their historically low levels, the inflationary backdrop prompted a change in course last year. And it was a course […]

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Consumer sentiment improves following Budget measures

Consumer sentiment has improved slightly this month, boosted by the measures announced in Budget 2024. The latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index registered a pick up in the public’s mood, following weakness in recent months. The index stood at 60.4 in the month, compared to 58.8 in September. However that still leaves it below the […]

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ECB breaks record streak of rate hikes as economy weakens

The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged as expected today, snapping an unprecedented streak of ten consecutive rate hikes, and maintained its guidance which signals steady policy ahead. The ECB has lifted rates by a combined 4.5 percentage points since July 2022 to combat runaway price growth but hinted last month that it would […]

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New guidance on social media advertising for influencers issued by CCPC and ASAI

New guidance for Irish influencers on how to clearly label ads on social media has been issued by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI). The advice comes as consumer agencies across the EU, including the CCPC, begin a coordinated sweep of influencer accounts to assess their […]

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Mortgage drawdowns fall 22%, driven by switching slump

Mortgage drawdowns were down almost 22% between July and September when compared to the same period last year. New figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland show that just over 11,600 mortgages were drawn down during the three month period, valued at over €3.1 billion. The fall is drawdowns was driven by an 81% drop […]

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Housing completions up 14% in third quarter – CSO

There was an increase of 8,452 in new dwelling completions in the third quarter of this year, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office. This marked an increase of just over 14% on the same period in 2022. Apartments, at 3,373, made up 40% of all new units. This was a 47.3% […]

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Job vacancies down 28% on last year

Job vacancies declined by 28% year-on-year and by 7% on a quarterly basis according to the latest Jobs Index from hiring platform IrishJobs. The data is for the third quarter of this year and shows that the IT sector experienced decreases in vacancies of 42% compared to last year and were down by 12% on […]

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ECB Governing Council expected to leave rates unchanged

The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) meets in Athens today where it’s widely expected to leave interest rates on hold for the first time since last summer. Recent economic indicators have shown the euro area is slowing down. The ECB has raised interest rates ten times since July of last year in […]

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