Posts by splash

Growth in the country’s service sector moderated slightly in June, bringing jobs growth to a near standstill but a sharp drop in input costs offered welcome relief to firms, a survey showed today. The AIB Global S&P Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 54.2 from 55 in May, broadly in line with the trend for the…

Average motor insurance premiums rose marginally in the first half of last year, compared to the year before, new data from the Central Bank has shown. Premiums increased by 0.5% to €561 during the period after a decreasing trend that had been seen since the second half of 2017. However, the small increase in premiums…

A new report from the ESRI shows that 35,000 to 53,000 new dwellings will be needed annually based on projected population growth scenarios. The report looks at forecasts for population levels and related housing requirements using census and research data, as well as various forecasts on international migration patterns. The research was funded by the…

The annual rate of inflation rose at the slowest rate in more than three years in June, increasing by 1.5% year-on-year compared to a rate of 2% in May, a flash estimate of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) from the Central Statistics Office today. Irish HICP had fallen to 1.6% in April from…

In today’s ever-evolving market landscape, liquidity management remains a cornerstone of a small business’s financial health. Enhancing cash reserves is not just about having funds in the bank; it’s about strategically managing these funds to ensure operational stability and facilitate growth. In this article from KAAS, we explore several effective strategies that small business owners…

June marked the sharpest decline in activity in the manufacturing sector in eleven months, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index published by AIB. The headline index fell to 47.4 in June from 49.8 May. Any measure below the 50 breakeven point signals contraction in a sector. The downturn was driven by a contraction in…

New research commissioned by life insurance and pensions firm Royal London Ireland has found that 67% of Irish people say that it is more difficult than ever to buy their first home. The research also shows that 27% agree that while it is difficult to get on the property ladder, this has always been the…

New figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland show there was a fall in the number of mortgages approved by Ireland’s main banks in May compared to the same time last year. That was driven by a more than 10% fall in approvals for first time buyers, although BPFI said that was in part due…

Irish household savings rose by €1.1 billion in May when compared to April, according to data published by the European Central Bank. The increase comes on the back of a €140m dip in savings levels in April, and brings total household deposits to €155.6 billion. “The really important piece of context here which makes all…

The consumer mood improved this month, according to the latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey, on the back of lower fuel costs and an ECB rate cut. The latest index shows that after months of weak data, the pick up in June has been big enough to undo half of the declines that had been…