Archive for May 2025

In today’s rapidly shifting economic environment, businesses must be more agile and resilient than ever before. At KAAS we believe that traditional growth strategies – focusing solely on market share, product development, or customer acquisition – are no longer enough to guarantee long-term success. Increasingly, businesses are recognising the need for a finance-first strategy, one…

Beijing is “evaluating” an offer from Washington to hold talks over US President Donald Trump’s 145% tariffs, China’s Commerce Ministry has said, although it warned the United States not to engage in “extortion and coercion”. Washington and Beijing have been locked in a cat-and-mouse game over tariffs, with both sides unwilling to be seen to…

New figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show that new car registrations rose by 1.9% in April, while registration of battery electric cars jumped by 23.7%. SIMI said that new car registrations rose to 8,731 in April compared to April last year. Registrations so far this year are up 3.4% to 73,505…

The scarring effects of the pandemic has resulted in small and medium firms investing less in their businesses, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute. It found nearly 60% of enterprises invested in capital in 2023 compared to 64% before the Covid-19. At the same time there was a significant fall in funds allocated…

Inflation rose by 2% in the 12 month period to April of this year, driven mainly driven by higher food prices. The latest figures show a marginal increase in the rise in the cost of living as measured by the Central Statistics Office as the figure for the 12 months to March was 1.8%. The…

The euro zone economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter, starting 2025 on a modestly upbeat note before a trade war with the US, a surging currency and deteriorating business sentiment weaken it, data showed today. The world’s second-largest economic bloc has barely grown over the past several years as businesses held back…

Growth in the country’s manufacturing sector accelerated in April thanks to a robust expansion in new orders amid signs of stock building due to tariff uncertainty, a survey showed today. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 53 from 51.6 in March, the latest report from AIB shows, moving further above the 50 threshold that…

When businesses think about threats to profitability, they often focus on obvious factors: declining sales, rising costs, or increased competition. At KAAS we know that one of the most damaging threats often lurks unnoticed within day-to-day operations – inefficiency. Silent and persistent, inefficiencies can erode profits, damage morale, and stunt growth if left unchecked. 1.…