A new industry survey suggests a confident outlook for Ireland’s travel sector heading into 2026, underpinned by strong profitability and rising revenues across much of the industry. According to the latest Annual Industry Barometer from the Irish Travel Agents Association, 86% of respondents reported that their business made a profit last year. Nearly half of…
Category Archives: News
Growth across Ireland’s manufacturing sector remained relatively subdued last month, according to the latest Purchasing Managers Index published by AIB. While activity continued to expand, the pace of improvement softened compared with December, reflecting weaker gains in both production and new orders. The survey highlighted subdued export demand and caution among clients, driven by ongoing…
Gold and silver prices moved higher today, recovering some ground after suffering their steepest two-day decline in decades. The recent volatility followed the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the US Federal Reserve and an increase in margin requirements by the CME Group, both of which cooled a rally that had pushed…
High-cost credit continues to pose significant challenges for consumers in Ireland, despite legislative efforts to curb the most excessive lending practices. The introduction of the Consumer Credit (Amendment) Act 2022 marked a major regulatory step by placing a statutory cap on interest rates for moneylender loans. Under the revised framework, simple interest is limited to…
The US dollar strengthened against a broad range of currencies, rebounding from a four-year low reached in the previous session, after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated that the United States continues to favour a strong dollar. Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Bessent said a strong dollar policy is rooted in maintaining sound economic fundamentals. He…
Vhi has confirmed that it will raise the cost of its health insurance policies by an average of 3% from the beginning of March, marking the third price adjustment within a 12-month period. The insurer estimates that the increase will add between €35 and €160 to the annual premium for each adult, depending on the…
The US dollar remained under pressure near its weakest levels in almost four years, following comments from President Donald Trump that were widely interpreted by markets as dismissive of the currency’s recent decline. The remarks fuelled further selling of the dollar and supported gains in the yen, euro and sterling, ahead of a closely watched…
High cost credit remains a significant concern for households across Ireland, despite legislative efforts to limit its most extreme impacts. The Consumer Credit Amendment Act 2022 introduced a cap on interest rates charged by moneylenders, limiting simple interest to 1 percent per week, with a maximum annual charge of 48 percent. When expressed as an…
A growing number of consumers believe tipping is shifting away from being a voluntary gesture, according to new research published by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The study found that almost two thirds of people feel tipping has become less voluntary, while three out of four want businesses to make it easier to…
Fully electric vehicles outsold petrol cars in the European Union for the first time in December, marking a significant shift in the region’s car market, according to new figures released by the European automotive industry. Data from European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association shows that battery electric vehicles moved ahead of petrol-powered cars during the month, even…
