Category: Syndicated

Christmas still ‘make or break’ for many retailers

The average retailer still relies on the six weeks around Christmas for up to 30% of its annual trade, according to the Ibec group, Retail Ireland. The sector has benefitted from rising wages and an increase in disposable income across the economy in recent years. However, footfall on the streets of towns and cities across […]

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European car sales up 8.6% in Oct, driven by VW rebound – ACEA

Passenger car registrations in Europe rose 8.6% in October, to their highest level since 2009, driven by robust demand in Germany and France. The figures were also boosted by a rebound in demand for Volkswagen cars, which posted a 29% gain. Registrations rose to 1.214 million cars in the countries of the European Union and […]

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More time spent on social media than calls – ComReg

New research shows that consumers here are using our phones less and less for phone calls and more for messaging and social media.  The research from communications regulator ComReg also finds that almost everyone in the country now has a phone – with Samsung and Apple the most popular brands.  Consumers are spending about a […]

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ECB has not reached limits of monetary policy – Lane

The European Central Bank has not reached the limit of what it can do on monetary policy, its chief economist Philip Lane has said. Despite unprecedented monetary easing, Professor Lane said the ECB still had further tools in its toolbox if needed, but added that they would depend on particular circumstances.  “Let me emphasise that […]

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Euro zone inflation confirmed as slowing to 0.7% in October

Euro zone’s headline inflation slowed in October, the European Union statistics office said today as it confirmed its earlier estimate, with energy prices falling markedly.  Eurostat also said the 19-country bloc posted in September a larger surplus in its trade with the rest of world, as exports grew more than imports.  Inflation was confirmed at […]

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EU Commission gives green light to broadband plan

The European Commission has approved the Government’s National Broadband Plan, saying it complies with EU state aid rules. The decision means one of the final hurdles preventing the State from signing the contract with the preferred bidder, National Broadband Ireland, has been overcome. The Commission said the €2.6bn of public support will result in high-speed […]

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WTO members warn on post-Brexit market access

World Trade Organization members have demanded compromises from the EU and Britain to ensure foreign businesses do not lose market access in post-Brexit trade.   At a meeting of the WTO’s Goods Council, 15 countries – including the US, India, Australia and Canada – raised concern over the so-called Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) that will […]

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Two thirds of SMEs do not have digital presence

A survey by the IE Domain Registry, which manages the dot-IE web address, h found that two thirds of SMEs do not have a digital presence. This means that much of the ever increasing amount of money spent online is going to multinationals like Amazon and ASOS. David Curtin, CEO of the IE Domain Registry, […]

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Property prices see slowest growth in six years – CSO

Dublin residential property prices fell for the third month in a row in the year to September, the latest Central Statistics Office figures show today. Dublin residential property prices decreased by 1.3% in the year to September, with house prices falling by 1.5% and apartments slowing by 0.2%.  The CSO noted that the highest house […]

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Euro zone economy continues steady growth in third quarter

The euro zone economy continued to grow at a modest pace in the third quarter as expected, data from the EU statistics office showed today, as Germany narrowly escaped a technical recession and other big economies expanded.  Eurostat said gross domestic product in the 19 countries sharing the euro increased 0.2% quarter-on-quarter in the third […]

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