News

Just over 47,000 personal loans were drawn down in the third quarter of this year, up over 12% in volume and 11% in value when compared to the same period last year. The figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) show that both the volume and value of drawdowns between July and September reached […]

The European Central Bank will continue to raise borrowing costs even as the euro zone economy suffers because letting inflation stay high would be even more painful, two top ECB policymakers said today. The ECB has been raising interest rates at a record pace and steering investors towards more hikes ahead to bring double-digit inflation […]

International travel has recovered quickly from the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, with overseas tourism to Ireland this year expected to reach 75% of the 2019 figures – a year which saw more than 11 million overseas visits to the island and revenue of nearly €6bn. Despite challenges, research in ten key markets shows the desire […]

Wages are going up at more than three times their pre-pandemic rate across euro area countries, according to a new study published by the Central Bank. However, the study also finds that wage growth may have levelled off in some countries as employers face “an increasingly uncertain and deteriorating economic outlook”. Central Bank economist Reamonn […]

Euro and sterling rose against the safe-haven US dollar today, supported by a risk-on sentiment across markets with European stocks rising on persistent hopes China will ease Covid restrictions. A survey showed today that investor morale in the euro zone improved in November, the first time it rose in three months, reflecting hopes that recent […]

Irish agri-food exports were worth €15.4 billion in 2021, an increase of 51% since 2012, new figures show today. Irish produce was exported to more than 180 countries with the largest export being dairy, which exceeded €5 billion for the third year in a row. Agri-food exports accounted for 9.5% of total goods exports from […]

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said eurozone finance ministers have agreed that an election to appoint the president of the Eurogroup will take place on 5 December 5, with a deadline of 24 November for prospective candidates to put their names forward. Mr Donohoe said he was “very privileged” to have received the support […]

The downturn in the euro zone economy has deepened as high inflation and fears of an intensifying energy crisis hit demand, adding to evidence the bloc is heading for a winter recession. A closely-watched survey showed euro zone October business activity contracted at the fastest pace since late 2020. German industrial orders also slumped more […]

The downturn in the euro zone economy has deepened as high inflation and fears of an intensifying energy crisis hit demand, adding to evidence the bloc is heading for a winter recession. A closely-watched survey showed euro zone October business activity contracted at the fastest pace since late 2020. German industrial orders also slumped more […]

Some economists and bankers are warning that the US economy and the global economy will enter recession by the middle of 2023. The Central Bank and employers body Ibec have also downgraded their growth outlooks for Ireland, but are still predicting economic growth next year. Simon McKeever, the CEO of the Irish Exporters Association, said […]