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The euro zone economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter, starting 2025 on a modestly upbeat note before a trade war with the US, a surging currency and deteriorating business sentiment weaken it, data showed today. The world’s second-largest economic bloc has barely grown over the past several years as businesses held back…

The Government has confirmed that the start date for pension auto-enrolment is to be delayed from 30 September 2025 to 1 January 2026. Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary said the commencement of the collection of contributions for the automatic enrolment retirement savings system, called My Future Fund, was being moved to align the new…

Preliminary figures for Gross Domestic Product, a measure of the economy which includes the contribution from multinationals, shows an increase of 3.2% in the first three months of this year compared to the last quarter of 2024. The Central Statistics Office said the rise was “was driven by an increase in the multinational dominated sectors…

Low supply, increasing demand from dairy farmers and issues around succession were the main factors driving up the price of agricultural land last year, according to a report. The study, from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and Teagasc, indicates the average price of agricultural land rose by 7% to €9,907 per acre between 2023…

73% of Irish consumers trust cards over all other payment methods, new data shows. The research carried out by Payments Europe reveals that 55% of consumers believe cards are the best payment method when considering safety and security, while 59% choose cards for their convenience and 54% for speed. Given the opportunity, 63% of Irish…

A memo to establish a new Strategic Housing Activation Office will go to the Cabinet this morning. However, the anticipated appointment of NAMA boss Brendan McDonagh to head up the new agency may not be finalised today. Government sources have indicated that issues around the setting up of the office will have to be “teased…

US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats are creating uncertainty for economies around the world but there is still margin for further interest rate cuts in Europe as inflation in the euro-zone heads lower, European Central Bank (ECB) policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said today. “We are in a moment of great uncertainty. Mr Trump’s polices…

The percentage of uninsured private vehicles on Irish roads has almost halved following the introduction of the new Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) system, which is aimed at assisting gardaí to easily detect uninsured drivers. According to research conducted by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI), last year there were 101,881 uninsured private vehicles…

Global finance leaders came to Washington last week seeking clarity on what it would take to get some relief from President Donald Trump’s multi-layered tariff assault and on just how much pain it will bring to the world economy. Most headed home with more questions than answers. Many participants in the International Monetary Fund and…

The European Union will do all it can to engage with the United States on trade and reduce the massive uncertainty that is weighing down the global economy, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said, underscoring unity among the bloc’s members. “What we are trying to do in our engagement with the US through the…