Tag Archives: Mark Kennedy & Co.

Manufacturing grows in February sees slowest pace in 11 months – PMI

The country’s manufacturing sector expanded at the slowest pace in 11 months in February as growth in output, new orders and employment all eased, a survey showed today. But growth still remained at an “elevated level” in historical terms and those surveyed expressed confidence about their output over the coming 12 months. The AIB IHS…

Residential commencements last year topped 2019 levels

Residential development commencements jumped 40% last year compared with 2020, and were 19% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019 – according to new figures from Deloitte Ireland. The data shows that commencement notices were lodged on 24,304 units last year, in residential schemes of more than 20 units. However, Deloitte estimates that around 6,000 units…

What the future holds for Irish mortgage holders.

What the future holds for Irish mortgage holders.

Ireland has risen to the top of the interest rates league table in Europe, that we pay on our mortgages.  The average first-time buyer pays about €200 more per month than their eurozone counterparts on a. mortgage of a similar size. Though it all looks like it’s about to change, and the change could come…

Tough sanctions on Russia knock 2% off European stocks

European stocks sank this morning as Western countries imposed tough new sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, while soaring oil prices fed into fears of runaway inflation. Shares in London were down 1%, while the Paris and Frankfurt markets were 2% lower in early trade. The Dublin market opened 0.7% lower this morning…

EC invites comments on proposed insurance data remedies

The European Commission is inviting comments on the commitments offered by Insurance Ireland to address competition concerns around access to a data sharing platform which the insurance body runs. EU competition regulators announced last summer that they had formed the preliminary view after a two-year investigation that Insurance Ireland breached competition rules in the motor…

Cost of living and price of housing identified as key challenges

The cost of living and the price of housing are the key issues facing the economy and people’s personal finances, according to a survey by Permanent TSB (PTSB). PTSB published the latest edition of its Reflecting Ireland research series on Friday. The series polls public attitudes each quarter and includes recurring questions about how people…

Consumer sentiment dips on inflation, conflict concerns

Consumer sentiment dipped in February, according to the latest survey from KBC Bank Ireland. The drop was blamed on the increase in living costs experienced by households in recent weeks, as well as rising concerns about a conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Consumer sentiment fell to 77 in February – down almost five points on…

Paschal Donohoe ‘optimistic’ on prospects for EU banking union

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe is “optimistic” that progress can be made on the completion of the EU banking union in the coming months, identifying it as “an important priority” for him in his role as president of the Eurogroup of euro zone finance ministers. Mr Donohoe said he was “committed” to fulfilling the mandate…

Majority in favour of flexible working arrangements: poll

Women, younger people and the lower paid are strongly in favour of more flexible working arrangements according to a poll carried out on behalf of the Labour Party. In a survey carried out by Ireland Thinks, 71% of respondents agreed that employees who can work remotely should have the right to do so. Some 81%…

Mortgage approvals down on December but up year-on-year – BPFI

Mortgage approvals fell in January when compared to the previous month, but were higher year-on-year, according to data from the Banking Payments Federation of Ireland. There were 3,621 mortgages approved last month, down 6.1% on December but 7.9% higher than in January 2021. The total value of the month’s approvals stood at €932m, which was…