News

When Micheál Martin announced an earlier than expected easing of restrictions just three weeks ago, relief was in the air. The worst of the pandemic appeared to be in the rear-view mirror, the economy was starting to recover strongly and his Government could finally look to tackle other important issues that had been put on […]

The Government is set to announce measures to address the impact of the rising cost of living on households. The Taoiseach told a meeting of his party last night that these supports will alleviate pressures on working people and those on low incomes. Today’s announcement will detail supports in excess of €400 million. However, this […]

Ireland once again has the highest mortgage interest rates in the euro zone, new figures from the Central Bank show. The average interest rate on new Irish mortgage agreements stood at 2.69% in December, compared to euro area average of 1.29%. Ireland is followed by Greece at 2.55% and Latvia at 2.26%. Finland has the […]

The Minister for Finance has said the Government will have a better idea next month what impact the reduction of the employment wage supports is having on vulnerable firms. Paschal Donohoe said it is difficult to form a view as to the number of employers who may see their viability effected as we move through […]

Rents nationally rose at an annual rate of just over 10% in the last three months of last year, according to listed rent prices compiled by the property website Daft.ie. On a quarterly basis, rents rose in the Dublin area by just over 4% compared to just 0.5% in Munster. This is a reversal of […]

A Government plan to give all workers the right to paid sick leave has been approved by the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The committee is recommending that all employees be entitled to the right of statutory sick pay to ensure workers on all forms of employment contracts receive the same protections. The […]

Over 43,000 personal loans for home improvements were drawn down last year, up almost 25% on the previous year. New figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland reveal that these loans were worth €462 million. The average home improvement loan was €9,748 in the final quarter of 2021, down from €10,899 on the fourth quarter […]

Government pandemic supports saved at least 4,500 Irish companies from going bust – an average of 50 companies every week, according to analysis by PwC which feature in a report ‘Act Now: From recovery to growth’. The author of the report said that while the businesses avoided insolvency, they will need further support to repair […]

New data show that household budgets are coming under pressure as grocery price inflation reached its highest level since October 2020 at 1.7% in the 12 weeks to January 23. The data from Kantar show that the number of products being sold on promotion has dropped by 3% compared with last January. Kantar also said […]

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde appeared to downplay inflation concerns today, arguing that price pressures could still subside before becoming entrenched and high energy costs would be a drag on prices further out. Pointing to mounting inflation risks, the ECB opened the door last week to an interest rate hike later in 2022 and […]