Posts by splash
Number of new mortgages approved in October up 8.6%
The number of new mortgages approved in October was up 8.6% on the previous month. In total 4,829 new mortgages got the green light, up 13% compared to the same month last year. The latest Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) data shows almost two thirds of the total were for first time buyers. “In…
Read MoreThe Role of Financial KPIs: Measuring Success Beyond Revenue and Profit
When assessing the health of a business, it’s tempting to focus solely on revenue and profit. While these figures are important, at KAAS we know they don’t paint the full picture. Financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) allow businesses to evaluate performance more holistically, helping to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth. What Are Financial…
Read MoreECB’s Lane says bank should focus on future risks for policy decisions, FT reports
The European Central Bank should make future monetary policy decisions based on upcoming risk rather than the latest economic data, ECB chief economist Philip Lane told the Financial Times in an interview published today. “Once the disinflation process (is) completed, then I think monetary policy needs to be essentially forward-looking, and to be scanning the…
Read MoreEuro zone inflation edges up, ‘underlying’ price growth steady
Euro zone inflation accelerated in November and its most closely watched components remained high, data showed today, adding to the case for a more cautious European Central Bank interest rate cut next month. Consumer price inflation in the 20 countries sharing the euro stood at 2.3% in November, according to the data from Eurostat. That…
Read MoreManufacturing activity contracts slightly in November – PMI
The country’s manufacturing sector saw a slight downturn in November, with a survey today showing a contraction in activity as new orders weakened. The latest AIB Ireland Manufacturing PMI fell to 49.9 from 51.5 in October. A PMI reading above 50 indicates growth, while below that level signals a contraction. This marks the third time…
Read MoreMonthly retail sales dip by 0.1% in October – CSO
New Central Statistics Office figures published today show that retail sales fell by 0.1% on a monthly basis in October to stand 0.9% higher than a year earlier. The CSO said that excluding car sales, the monthly volume of retail sales was down by 0.2% in October and rose by 0.9% in the year when…
Read MoreAI accountability lab launched at Trinity College Dublin
A new research group designed to advance accountability in artificial intelligence (AI) has been launched at Trinity College Dublin. The AI Accountability Lab will examine the broader impacts of AI and hold powerful entities accountable for technological harms. The team behind the lab said that AI technologies have been shown to encode and exacerbate existing…
Read MoreInflation increases to 0.5% in November – flash estimate
Consumer prices rose by 0.5% in the year to November compared to 0.1% in October – the highest level in three months – a flash estimate of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) from the Central Statistics Office shows today. Recent sharp falls had put inflation among the lowest in the euro zone last…
Read MoreCost competitiveness a top issue for US companies here
Cost competitiveness is the the top issue for American companies looking to expand in Ireland, new data shows. The latest survey of American Chamber members shows that 32% cited it as their top worry, up from 19% in the previous survey back in July. Housing also continues to be a big issue, with 30% of…
Read MoreNTMA to issue €6-10 billion worth of bonds next year
The National Treasury Management Agency said today it plans to issue €6 billion to €10 billion of bonds over the course of 2025 – the same range it set out for 2024. The NTMA ended up raising €6 billion this year due to the Government running a big budget surplus. The Department of Finance expects…
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