The Economic and Social Research Institute has lowered its forecasts for growth in the economy this year and increased its outlook for inflation as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine. In its latest Quarterly Economic Survey, the ESRI said inflation could peak at 8.5% this summer before averaging out across the year at…

Commencement notices for new residential homes last month hit their highest rolling 12-month total since the recording of the data began in 2004. According to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, notification was received during February that work was to begin on building 2,237 new houses and apartments. That represented an increase of…

The Government has announced plans for a new law that will make it easier for consumers to group together and seek redress if they have been affected by a breach of their rights, either in Ireland or in another EU country. The legislation will give designated qualified entities new powers to take enforcement action on…

A new national online searchable database has been set up by IDA Ireland, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, to profile Irish based companies and multinational companies that have capacity in disruptive and sustainable technologies. Funding was secured under the Public Service Innovation Fund to build the new portal. It will allow companies to identify collaborators,…

The ESRI is set to warn later this week that soaring price inflation could be with us for up to two years. Many economists had predicted high inflation would ease this year, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means that higher energy and fuel prices are likely continue for the foreseeable future. Last week the US…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the proportion of retail sales conducted online fell to 5.8% in January of this year compared to 9.7% during the previous month. It also marked a fall from a rate of 11% in January 2021 but was up from a rate of 3.2% in January 2020,…

A new website has been launched that will allow Irish businesses to make “welcome offers” of free or discounted goods to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The ‘Tech For Good Dublin’ community has established the new site which is called ‘Pryvit.ie’. ‘Pryvit’ means hello in Ukrainian and the aim of the not-for-profit initiative is…

There was reduced reliance on gas for our electricity needs in February, according to Gas Networks Ireland, as multiple storms brought wind generation capacity to a record high. Wind generated just over half of Ireland’s electricity needs in the month, peaking at 77% and never dipping below 8%, the latest Gas Demand Statement showed. That…

Mary* has been a customer with Ulster Bank for 30 years. She is a sole trader based in the west of Ireland. She is 60 and considers herself to be reasonably tech-savvy since she has a successful business, selling her products online. All of her personal and business banking is done through Ulster Bank. The…