Archive for November 2021

New figures from Banking Payments Federation Ireland show a slowdown in mortgage approvals in October both on a monthly and annual basis. BPFI said a total of 4,568 mortgages were approved in October, which marked a monthly fall of 4.2% and a yearly drop of 12.3%. Of these mortgages, 2,533 were for first time buyers,…

Most consumers want to take action on climate change, but believe it will cost them financially to do so. That’s according to new research by Permanent TSB and Kantar. It reveals that consumers want to see more financial incentives introduced, to help them transition to a more eco-friendly way of living. In particular, the research…

Retail sales fell by 1.7% in October compared to the previous month but were 9% up on pre-pandemic levels in the same time of 2019, new Central Statistics Office figures show today. The highest increases compared to 2019 levels were seen in the electrical goods, furniture and lighting and food, beverages and tobacco categories, which…

Consumer and business confidence dropped this month, amid rising Covid cases and Brexit setbacks. That is according to the latest Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse, which has fallen to its lowest reading in eight months. The survey gathers the views of households and businesses on topics such as finances, spending plans, house prices and business…

If you are a customer of Ulster Bank or KBC, you may want to start thinking about what bank you will switch to when they withdraw from the Irish market. While both banks say no action is required at the moment, it is worth being prepared well in advance of the closures. Ulster Bank has…

Economists differ at the moment over whether the pace of price increases that we are seeing is temporary, or ‘transient’ as they like to put it. Some argue that the rate at which prices are going up is being influenced by the reopening of the economy as the pandemic restrictions are lifted and what we…

European stocks sank over 3% this morning as reports of a newly identified and possibly vaccine resistant coronavirus variant stoked fears of a fresh hit to global economy and drove investors out of riskier assets. Cyclical-heavy European stock markets have already been under stress this week as a resurgence in Covid-19 cases prompted new restrictions…

Ireland’s Skills Strategy is to be reviewed as part of a joint project between the state, stakeholders in the skills sector and the OECD. The review, led by the OECD, will focus on how Ireland is equipped to meet current and future skills needs as well as examining how businesses and employees can be supported…