Archive for October 2024
Growth expected to continue at moderate pace as economy nears full capacity – AIB report
More moderate growth is expected in the coming years as the economy and labour market reach full capacity, according to AIB’s Economic Outlook. It forecasts modified domestic demand (MDD) to grow by 2.8% next year and 2.7% in 2026. The report finds that, following a fall in GDP in 2023 due to a downturn in…
Read MoreMotor insurance premiums rose 2% last year – Central Bank
The average premium paid by consumers for motor insurance in Ireland last year rose 2% to €568, the first increase in five years. It comes as the cost of a claim per policy rose by 5% in 2023 to €369, bringing it back near pre-Covid levels in 2019. Of that figure, the cost per policy…
Read More635 million bottles and cans returned to Deposit Return Scheme
A total of 635 million plastic bottles and aluminum cans have been returned to the Deposit Return Scheme so far. That is according to new data from the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications. This equates to €110 million in deposits returned to customers. The collection rate for August was equivalent to 73% of all…
Read MoreFinancial Impacts of Expanding Your Workforce: Planning for Growth
As businesses grow, one of the key indicators of success is the need to expand the workforce. Bringing in new talent can drive innovation, increase productivity, and open up new market opportunities. However, hiring more employees also brings a host of financial responsibilities that, if not properly planned for, can strain a company’s resources. At…
Read MoreStudy finds low levels of compliance with on-site and hybrid attendance policies
Just 10% of human resources professionals say that their organisation has a 100% level of compliance with on-site or hybrid attendance policies, new research has established. But the study also found that almost half of respondents reported a compliance level of at least 50%. The HR Update report, published by Ibec to coincide with its…
Read MoreConsumers warned of new ‘direct debit’ scam on the rise
Consumers are being warned of a new ‘direct debit’ scam which is falsely leading people to believe their bank account has been hacked. FraudSMART, the fraud awareness initiative led by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), said the scammers are persuading people to move their money to a so-called ‘safe account’ in order to protect…
Read MoreECB starting to debate if rates have to go below neutral, sources say
European Central Bank policymakers have begun to debate whether interest rates need to be lowered enough to start stimulating the economy, ending years of economic restriction, conversations this week with half a dozen sources indicate. The ECB has been cutting rates quickly this year but policymakers have so far said the goal is a neutral…
Read MoreUnderstanding Transfer Pricing: What Small Businesses Should Consider
Transfer pricing is a concept that may not immediately appear on the radar of small businesses, but for those engaged in international trade or with affiliated companies in different countries, it’s a crucial area of tax compliance and planning. Even though it is often associated with larger m…
Read MoreStaffing, energy costs biggest worries for Irish SMEs – SBCI
A new survey from the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland reveals that access to skilled staff, high energy and transport costs as well as access to finance are the biggest risks identified by Irish SMEs. The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland is the State’s promotional financial institution and it has channelled over €4 billion in…
Read MoreGas emissions dropped by 2.2% in the first three months of the year
Progress on cutting Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions continued during the first three months of the year with an overall reduction of 2.2% in emissions compared with the same three-month-period in 2023, according to a new quarterly emissions report from the Environmental Protection Agency. The first ever quarterly emissions data from the EPA shows electricity imports…
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