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The average cost of a motor insurance policy increased by 9% (€49) during the first half of last year, when compared with the first six months in 2023. Latest figures from the Central Bank’s National Claims Information Database show that the average premium increased from €567 to €616 over the period. This compares with an…

Senior US and Chinese officials will travel to Switzerland later this week to kickstart stalled trade talks following US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff rollout, according to statements from both countries. The talks mark the first official public engagement between the world’s two largest economies to resolve a trade war escalated by Mr Trump shortly…

The Department of Finance will publish economic forecasts for Ireland to take account of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in the United States. The document will be brought to a meeting of the Cabinet and launched by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers. The forecasts set out two…

Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke is to meet with the heads of 19 agencies and offices under his remit to instruct them to reflect on their processes and the obligations they put on small businesses. They will be called on to significantly simplify their policies, slash red tape and make any forms or statutory applications…

Growth in the country’s services sector slowed in April to its lowest level in over a year as international trade tensions weighed on business sentiment, a survey shows today. The AIB Global S&P Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 52.8 in April from 55.3 in March, still above the 50 level that separates growth from…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…