Category: Syndicated

Electricity demand set to grow 45% between now and 2034

The body which manages the electricity grid says demand is expected to grow by 45% from its 2023 level to 2034 and the peak requirement for power will rise by 24% over the same period. EirGrid says there will be a “challenging outlook” between this year and 2027 until new sources of power come on […]

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ECB board member makes case for more interest rate cuts

The case for another European Central Bank interest rate cut is strengthening, ECB board member Piero Cipollone said today, just days after another prominent policy dove made a similar argument. The ECB has cut interest rates six times since last June but provided few signals about its next move after the most recent reduction at […]

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Euro zone economy growth accelerates to seven-month high in March, PMI shows

Euro zone business activity grew at its fastest pace in seven months in March, supported by an easing in the long-running manufacturing downturn despite slower growth in services, a survey showed. The improving business climate in the common currency bloc could gain more traction over the coming months as plans for a spending splurge in […]

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Land, capital and labour issues must be addressed to increase housing output – BPFI

At least half of housing commencements in 2024 were due to uncertainty over the extension of the development levy waiver or water connection charge refund, according to the latest Housing Market Monitor for the fourth quarter of 2024, published today by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland. More than 69,000 new homes commenced in 2024, more […]

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US Fed holds interest rates steady as expected, as Trump tariff fears buffet markets

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady today, as expected, but US central bank policymakers indicated they still anticipate reducing borrowing costs by half a percentage point by the end of this year in the context of slowing economic growth and, eventually, a downturn in inflation. Taking stock of the Trump administration’s rollout of tariffs, […]

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Residential property prices up 8.1% in 12 months to January

Property prices rose by 8.1% in the 12 months to January this year, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office. The cost of buying a home rose by 7.5% in Dublin and prices outside the capital were up by 8.6%. The median price of a dwelling was €359,999 nationally in January, today’s […]

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Commercial vacancy rate reaches highest level at 14.5%

The national commercial vacancy rate has reached its highest level on record at 14.5%, according to the latest GeoDirectory Commercial Buildings Report. The report, prepared by EY, shows the rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 14.5% in the last quarter of 2024, which is the highest level recorded by GeoDirectory since it began tracking […]

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Central Bank reduces forecast for economic growth due to rising uncertainty

The Central Bank has reduced its forecast for economic growth for this year due to rising uncertainty caused by the trade war between the US and EU. It says the domestic economy will grow by 2.7% which is 0.5% lower than its last projection. The bank also said fewer homes will be built over the […]

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NTMA to raise €1 billion in bond auction this week

The National Treasury Management Agency will seek to raise €1 billion in nine and 12-year debt in its first bond auction of the year on Thursday, the National Treasury Management Agency said. Ireland has a relatively limited borrowing requirement this year due to its large cash balances and forecast budget surplus. It plans to issue […]

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Irish exports to US jump by 81% in January – CSO

There was an 81% surge in Irish exports to the US in January compared with the same month a year earlier, according to the Central Statistics Office. Total medical and pharmaceutical products sold abroad grew by 68%, today’s CSO figures show. There have been anecdotal indications that some companies could be stockpiling goods in the […]

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