Archive for September 2025

The use of smartphones and smartwatches, as the preferred payment method in Ireland, is continuing to grow. New figures show that contactless payments accounted for 87.9% of all point-of-sale (POS) card payments during the first half of the year. Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) said 58.2% of the payments were made using mobile wallets…

The Bank of England looks set to slow the £100 billion a year pace at which it reduces its government bond holdings following increased volatility in bond markets, while keeping its main interest rate on hold. Although the Bank of England views the pace of quantitative tightening as having little impact on the economy, the…

Choosing an AI model to use means making a call between different ecosystems and tools based on issues of data, privacy, cost and trust Artificial intelligence has moved from novelty to necessity. The systems we once treated as party tricks are now drafting essays, analysing data, generating code and even advising governments. But there is…

The Central Bank has warned the Government’s planned Budget package of €9.4bn of additional spending is “too large” and “unnecessary”. The bank said the “sharp increase” in Government expenditure would impact on the public finances. It also said there would be a larger underlying deficit than had been expected this year when one-off factors are…

At KAAS we know good record-keeping may not be the most glamorous part of running a business, but it is one of the most important. Accurate and organised records provide the foundation for compliance, financial stability, and informed decision-making. When businesses neglect this area, the costs are often greater than they realise. The Real Risks…

A plan to block suspected scam text messages has been delayed amid ongoing concerns over technical issues. The communications regulator, ComReg, launched a new system earlier this year which saw messages from unregistered sender IDs labelled as ‘likely scam’ from July. However, many phone users had raised concerns about legitimate text messages being incorrectly labelled…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show a 12.5% fall in the total number of homes granted planning permission in the second quarter of this year, with approvals falling to 7,447 units from 8,513 units the same time last year. The CSO planning permission figures give an indication of future building activity. The CSO…

British inflation held at 3.8% in August, remaining the highest of any major advanced economy, according to official data that underscores why investors believe the Bank of England is unlikely to cut interest rates again this year. High inflation is a problem for Britain’s government as well as the Bank of England. Finance minister Rachel…

Almost half of Irish food and Agribusinesses have delayed investment due to uncertainty, despite record optimism in the sector. The 2025 Food and Agribusiness Report, which is now in its 8th year, is based on the views of food and agribusiness leaders and is Ireland’s only dedicated sentiment tracker for the sector. The report is…