Category: Business News

The European Central Bank kept interest rates unchanged as expected today, with its president Christine Lagarde saying a move in September was “wide open”. The ECB cut rates from record highs last month in a move that even some of its policymakers considered rushed after progress on lowering inflation to its 2% target stalled. With […]

Read More… from ECB keeps rates unchanged, offers no guidance on next move

The domestic tourism market grew strongly in 2023 with over 14.3 million trips taken by Irish holidaymakers which generated €3.1 billion for the economy. New figures from Fáilte Ireland show over one million extra domestic holidays were taken by Irish people in 2023, an annual increase of 8%. Related expenditure was also up by 6.5% […]

Read More… from Over one million domestic holidays taken last year, up 8%

New car sales in the European Union rose 4.3% in June to their highest since July 2019, driven by an uptick in major markets Italy, Germany, and Spain, while registrations of battery electric cars fell marginally, data from Europe’s auto industry body showed today. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said a rise in registrations […]

Read More… from EU new car sales rise 4.3% in June

The annual rate of increase in the price of homes around the country picked up further in pace in May, new data from the Central Statistics Office shows. The CSO’s Residential Property Price Index rose by 8.2% in the 12 months to the end of May, compared to 7.9% in the year to the end […]

Read More… from Property prices rise for 9th month in a row in May – CSO

The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to leave interest rates unchanged when it meets later today. The likely pause follows the decision to cut rates by 0.25% at the last meeting of the bank’s chiefs in June, the first reduction since 2019. That brought the key deposit rate back down […]

Read More… from ECB not expected to cut interest rates any further today

The global economy is set for modest growth over the next two years amid cooling activity in the US, a bottoming-out in Europe and stronger consumption and exports for China, but risks to the path abound, the International Monetary Fund said today. The IMF warned in an update to its World Economic Outlook (WEO) that […]

Read More… from IMF sees steady global growth, warns of slowing disinflation

There has been a strong rebound in Dublin office lettings, but a surge in supply in driving vacancy rates higher. New data from BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland shows that 86,250 sq m of office accommodation was taken-up between April and June. This is the highest figure for two and a half years, and surpasses […]

Read More… from Rebound in Dublin office lettings, but vacancy still rising

Just 15% of businesses here say they are fully compliant with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules. A survey by Ipsos B&A, conducted on behalf of Forvis Mazars and McCann Fitzgerald, found that 58% of firms deemed themselves to be ‘materially compliant’, while 25% were ‘somewhat compliant’. That is despite more companies […]

Read More… from Just 15% of Irish firms ‘fully compliant’ with GDPR

The Government is to establish a new regulator to oversee the construction of buildings. The Buildings Standards Regulatory Authority will have powers of inspection, enforcement and will have a range of sanctions available to it. Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien will seek Cabinet approval for the establishment of the new regulator. This step was recommended […]

Read More… from Regulator overseeing building construction to be set up

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that exports of goods increased by 10% to almost €91 billion in the first five months of this year, while imports decreased by 10% during the same time. The CSO said that chemicals and related products showed the largest changes in both cases. Exports of these goods […]

Read More… from Exports increase by 10% in first five months of 2024