Category Archives: News

Inflation Climbs to 21-Month High as Prices Continue to Rise

Ireland’s annual rate of consumer price inflation increased to 3.2% in November, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office. This marks an acceleration from the 2.9% rate recorded in October and represents the highest annual inflation level since February 2024. The data shows that price pressures remain widespread across several sectors of…

Planning Activity Rises as Third Quarter Permissions Jump Nearly 30 Percent

New figures from the Central Statistics Office indicate a notable uplift in planning activity, with permissions granted in the third quarter rising by 29.4 percent compared with the same period last year. This marks the strongest quarter of approvals since late 2023 and will likely be interpreted as an encouraging sign for future housing supply….

Ireland Marks 40 Years Since Its First Mobile Phone Call

Ireland marks a significant technological milestone this week, celebrating four decades since the country’s first mobile phone call. The call, made on 11 December 1985, saw the then Minister for Communications, Jim Mitchell, ring broadcaster Pat Kenny for a light conversation that happened to signal the beginning of a new era in Irish telecommunications. Ireland…

Construction Sector Activity Continues to Contract in November

New figures from the latest AIB Purchasing Managers’ Index indicate that construction activity in Ireland declined again in November, marking the seventh consecutive month of contraction. The continued drop reflects persistent weakness in demand and a slowdown in new project inflows. The headline Construction Total Activity Index fell to 46.7 in November, down from 48.1…

Can Willpower Really Curb Christmas Overspending?

Every December brings the same familiar pattern. Days grow darker, routines get busier, and spending climbs far faster than many households anticipate. Surveys indicate that Irish consumers spent close to €1,200 on average last Christmas, with a significant number dipping into savings or turning to borrowing to cover festive costs. The pressures of the season…

CCPC reports declining competition across parts of Ireland’s services sector

A new analysis from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has highlighted a notable weakening of competitive pressures across several key segments of the Irish services sector. The findings form part of the CCPC’s State of Competition in Ireland programme, which is reviewing developments in non-financial services over a fifteen-year period from 2008 to 2022….

Construction sector activity continues to contract as demand weakens

Ireland’s construction industry recorded another month of declining activity in November, marking the seventh consecutive month of contraction, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index from AIB. The data signals ongoing pressure across the sector, with firms reporting a continued drop in new orders and subdued demand for building projects. The headline Construction Total Activity…

Government measures improve financial viability of new apartment developments, according to SCSI analysis

A new assessment by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland indicates that recent policy changes have strengthened the financial viability of apartment construction. The study suggests that Government interventions introduced after a slowdown in apartment delivery have altered the economics of the sector in a noticeable way. Before any State assistance was applied, only two…