Category: Business News

The service sector grew at its fastest pace in eight months in March, new figures show. The latest AIB Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reveals that the index reached 56.6, up from 54.4 in February. Readings above 50 indicate overall growth in activity. “The acceleration in activity was broad-based and points to improving business conditions throughout […]

Read More… from Service sector grows at fastest pace in eight months

The European Central Bank could start cutting interest rates in June as inflation may fall quicker than expected but should not get too far ahead of its US counterpart, as that diminishes the potency of easing, Austrian policymaker Robert Holzmann said. Euro area inflation has tumbled over the past year and economic growth stalled, shifting […]

Read More… from ECB’s Holzmann says warming to June rate cut but keeping an eye on Fed

Several of Ireland’s largest trade union groups have joined forces calling for a major reform of workers’ rights. The Respect at Work campaign says there should be cross party-political support guaranteeing greater protections for employees in the workplace. SIPTU, the Financial Services Union, Mandate Trade Union and the Communication Workers’ Union are all backing the […]

Read More… from Unions join forces in call for major reforms of workers’ rights

Annual inflation in Ireland fell below the euro zone-wide target of 2% for the first time in almost three years after slowing to 1.7% in March, a flash estimate of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) from the Central Statistics Office shows. Irish inflation peaked at almost 10% year-on-year in the middle of 2022 […]

Read More… from Inflation falls below 2% for first time since June 2021 – flash CSO reading

The manufacturing sector contracted in March after briefly returning to growth a month earlier, a survey showed today, with confidence among firms also slumping to the lowest level in more than three years. The AIB S&P Global manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell back below the 50 mark denoting growth to 49.6, compared with 52.2 […]

Read More… from Manufacturing contracts again in March – PMI

After decades of discussion and debate, the prospect of workers being automatically added into a private pension scheme took a step closer this week. On Wednesday the Cabinet approved a Bill that is designed to create an auto-enrolment pension system in Ireland. Following the lead of Britain, New Zealand and Italy, amongst others, the scheme […]

Read More… from Pension auto-enrolment: What is it and what will it cost?

The average price of a used property in Dublin rose 1.9% between January and March compared to the previous three months, new data from DNG shows. That’s more than twice the level of growth recorded in the city in the same month of last year and leaves the average price of a resale property in […]

Read More… from Cost of second hand homes in Dublin rise 1.9% in first quarter

Just €10m has so far been paid out in mortgage interest relief under the Government scheme announced in the budget, despite €125m being allocated for it. 12,107 PAYE taxpayers have made a claim for the assistance, which is designed to help those who struggled with mortgage repayments last year because of rising interest rates. Of […]

Read More… from €10m paid out so far under €125m mortgage interest relief scheme

Inflation in Ireland has fallen significantly in recent months, but a number of cost increases will weigh on consumers from next Monday. From midnight on 1 April, the cost of petrol, diesel and marked fuel oil (green diesel) will rise. It is the latest step by Government to restore excise rates to the levels they […]

Read More… from Price increases in store for consumers from Monday

Draft legislation designed to set up the new pension auto-enrolment system has been approved by the Cabinet. If enacted, the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill will result in up to 800,000 private sector workers, who currently do not have a pension, becoming automatically enrolled in one. The aim of the plan is to extend […]

Read More… from Cabinet approves Bill to introduce pension auto-enrolment