Category: Syndicated

85% of Ulster Bank and KBC Bank Ireland accounts now closed

New figures from the Central Bank show that a total of 86,298 current and deposit accounts were closed in Ulster Bank and KBC Bank in four weeks to the end of March. The account closures come as the two banks continue their withdrawal from the Irish market. The Central Bank said this marked a reduction […]

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Property price increases slow to 5% in February – CSO

The annual rate of residential property price increases slowed nationally to 5% in February, compared to 6.1% in January, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show. This marked a 22 month low and is one-third of the 15% growth rate seen in February last year. On a monthly basis, prices fell 0.4% in February, […]

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UK’s De La Rue warns FY profit below expectations on dwindling cash demand

Struggling British banknote printer De La Rue warned its fiscal 2023 profit was set to miss market expectations and next year’s outlook was uncertain, as demand for cash hit its lowest in over two decades. This sent its shares to a record low. The company said it was talking to lenders about amending its banking […]

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Irish mortgage rates see surprise dip in February

New figures from the Central Bank show that the average interest rate on a new mortgage dipped in February to 2.92% from 2.93% in January. Ireland once again had the third cheapest mortgage rates in the euro zone in February. The euro zone average mortgage rate rose to 3.33%, almost three times the rate it […]

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Inbound tourism visits during Q1 still down 16% on pre-pandemic levels

The number of international visitors to Ireland over the first three months of the year remained down 16% compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic hit. According to data compiled by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), 1.7m people visited Ireland from overseas between January and the end of March. But the […]

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Live register numbers down almost 1% in March – CSO

The seasonally adjusted number of people on the Live Register in March stood at 180,500 – a decrease of almost 1%, or 1,600 from the position in February. According to figures from the Central Statistics Office, the unadjusted total stood at 179,777 for March. Of those, almost 54% were male and just under 70% were […]

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Interest rates likely to fall to pre-pandemic levels – IMF

The International Monetary Fund has said it expects interest rates in major economies to fall back to pre-pandemic levels because of low productivity and ageing populations. In a blog issued ahead of its latest forecast for the global economy, the Fund said increases in borrowing costs were likely to be “temporary” once high inflation is […]

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150,000 letters sent about unpaid Local Property Tax

Revenue has sent 150,000 letters to property owners who haven’t yet paid their Local Property Tax (LPT) or made an arrangement to pay. All residential properties were required to set up their payment method by 10 January at the latest, and most did. Revenue said payment arrangements for 2023 LPT liabilities are in place on […]

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Euro zone consumers more optimistic on inflation – ECB survey

Euro zone consumers cut their inflation expectations in February and also took a more optimistic view on growth and unemployment, a fresh survey by the European Central Bank showed today. Euro zone inflation has started to edge down from record highs around the turn of the year. Further big falls are also likely over the […]

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ECB may need to increase rates again in May – Lane

The chief economist of the European Central Bank, Philip Lane, has said the bank’s next decision on interest rates in May will be “data-dependent” but another rise could be “appropriate” if certain economic conditions are met. Philip Lane made his remarks in an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, which was published today by the […]

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