Posts by splash

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that US President Trump’s universal tariffs are a major blow to the world economy, which she said will suffer massively. Mr Trump unveiled a 10% minimum tariff on most goods imported to the United States – with a higher 20% rate for the European Union –…

The country’s services sector expanded at its fastest pace this year in March, driven by a sharp increase in new business and employment, according to a survey released today. The AIB Ireland Services Business Activity Index rose to 55.3 in March from 53.2 in February, indicating strong growth, AIB reported. A reading above 50 signals…

Pricing isn’t just about numbers—it’s about perception. How your customers feel about your prices can have as much impact on your bottom line as the prices themselves. At KAAS we believe that that’s where the psychology of pricing comes in: the study of how consumers perceive value, make decisions, and respond to different pricing strategies.…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned “all options are on the table” in response to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs threats, saying while the EU does not want an economic conflict it has the “power to push back”. Speaking at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, France, in a debate where…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the unemployment rate rose slightly to 4% in March from a record low of 3.9% a month earlier. The jobless rate in February had matched the previous record low recorded between October 2000 and April 2001 in the early days of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ boom. The…

The number of personal injuries claims submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board last year rose by 1% to 20,318 when compared with 2023 – but still remain well below pre-pandemic levels. According to the board’s personal injuries and awards report for 2024, the volume of claims is down by 35% on what was seen in…

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), scaling up can be an exciting yet financially daunting prospect. Growth often requires significant investment—whether in staffing, infrastructure, or technology. But there’s a smarter, often underutilised path to expansion that we recommend at KAAS: strategic partnerships. A strategic partnership is more than a handshake deal; it’s a deliberate collaboration…

The price of gold has been rising on global markets to near record highs. This time last year, gold prices on international markets were trading at below $2,000 (€1,848) per troy ounce. Now they are above $3,000 and predicted to rise further. Gold is often seen as a safer investment when there are political and…

Most low-income households had to make high-risk changes to their finances to cope with the cost of living crisis, according to the latest ESRI research. Typical changes included entering arrears, taking on more debt, or eating into savings. The research, conducted by the ESRI’s Behavioural Research Unit, said such decision are linked to damaging long-term…

The net wealth of Irish households has reached €1.2 trillion, of which €812 billion is property wealth The new Goodbody Guide to Inheritance and Estate Planning, published today, aims to help people manage the efficient transfer of wealth to the next generation. The report highlights how wealth is unevenly distributed across households with 49% of…