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…
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China is considering exempting some US imports from its 125% tariffs and is asking businesses to identify goods that could be eligible in the biggest sign yet that Beijing is worried about the economic fallout from its trade war with Washington. A Ministry of Commerce taskforce is collecting lists of items that could be exempted…
There was a 2% increase in the number of completions in the first three months of this year in comparison to the same time last year, according to the latest figures on home building from the Central Statistics Office. The CSO said there was a 13.4% rise in apartment building with 1,781 units completed but…
Consumers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland expect a weaker economy, less favourable job prospects, and higher inflation over the next five years, a new survey suggests. The research – undertaken on behalf of credit unions on the island of Ireland – indicates that people are increasingly concerned by issues around tariffs, infrastructure…
The Government missed its target on new build social homes last year, with a shortfall of more than 1,400. Minister for Housing James Browne said he expects each local authority to do everything possible to meet their targets for 2025. Figures released today show that the target for delivering affordable homes was exceeded. The data…
Economic pressures from steep new US tariffs will push global public debt above pandemic-era levels to nearly 100% of global GDP by the end of the decade as slower growth and trade strain government budgets, the International Monetary Fund said today. The IMF’s latest Fiscal Monitor projected that global public debt will grow 2.8 percentage…
European airlines are set to report first-quarter results in the coming weeks, offering outlooks for the lucrative travel season amidst growing worries that economic uncertainty could slow demand and threaten earnings. That comes after the European Travel Commission noted in a study published today that Europeans are making fewer travel plans for this summer on…
Euro zone inflation could be a touch higher this year than earlier thought but will then stabilise at the European Central Bank’s 2% target, the bank’s Survey of Professional Forecasters showed today. The ECB cut interest rates for the seventh time in a year last Thursday, arguing that disinflation was well on track and risks…
The International Monetary Fund has sharply cut its growth forecasts for this year because of the disruption caused by the tariffs on imports introduced by the US. It says the tariff regime introduced on 2 April by the Trump administration will cut global economic growth by half of one per cent – reducing it to…
Wind farms provided 38% of the country’s electricity in first three months of 2025, according to a report by Wind Energy Ireland. Kerry wind farms led the way last month, producing more wind energy than any other county at 135 GWh. It was followed by Cork (125 GWh), then Galway (89 GWh), Mayo (87 GWh)…