Archive for November 2023
Public sector pay talks to begin at WRC
Talks on a new public sector pay deal involving unions, staff associations and the Government are due to begin at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) today. Last week, unions accepted an invitation from the Government to enter talks, but said they want to focus on a short-term agreement. They also expressed disappointment at the Government’s…
Read MoreIrish agri-food exports were worth €19 billion in 2022
Irish agri-food exports were worth €19 billion in 2022, with 165,000 people employed across the sector, according to the latest annual review and outlook report from the Department of Agriculture published today. Last year was another bumper year for Irish agri-food exports, with total sales of €19 billion, up 22% on 2021. The increase was…
Read MoreLabour market participation rate highest since 2008 – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office today show that the estimated labour market participation rate in the third quarter of 2023 reached 65.8% – the highest rate recorded since the third quarter of 2008 and up from 64.8% the same time last year. Today’s CSO Labour Force Survey figures show that the employment rate…
Read MoreCentral Bank’s Makhlouf not ruling out another interest rate hike
The full effect of higher interest rates has yet to feed through the economy, according to the Central Bank’s Financial Stability Review published today. The Review has left mortgage lending rules unchanged. Speaking at a press conference, the Governor of the Central Bank said he was concerned inflation was higher in Ireland than in the…
Read MoreMortgage approvals for first time buyers hits record in year to October
The number of mortgages approved last month increased by 2.7% compared to a month earlier. But versus the same month in 2022, volumes were down 20%, as switching activity fell off, new data from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) shows. A total of 4,273 mortgages were approved during the month, with first time buyers…
Read More€110 billion collected in taxes in 2022, up 17% on 2021 – CSO
The Exchequer collected €110 billion in 2022 in taxes and PRSI, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office published today. This is an increase of €16.3 billion or 17% on the total tax revenue figure in 2021. Included in this figure was what the CSO described as an “unprecedented” 48% increase in corporation tax…
Read MoreOPEC+ postpones policy meeting to November 30, oil falls
OPEC+ has delayed a ministerial meeting expected to discuss oil output cuts to November 30 from November 26 as producers struggled to agree on production levels and hence possible reductions, OPEC+ sources said, a surprise delay that sent oil prices sliding. Three OPEC+ sources said this was linked to African countries. OPEC+ said after its…
Read More€1,000 reduction in third level college fees comes into effect
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has announced further details on the cost of education measures first outlined in the Budget. A reduction of €1,000 in undergraduate fees has now been applied to all students’ accounts reducing the cost of college for 96,000 students by 33%. Students, or their families, who have paid…
Read MoreEuro zone to tighten fiscal policy in 2024 – Commission
Euro zone fiscal policy will be tighter on aggregate next year but several countries, including France and Italy, plan to spend too much, breaking EU recommendations, the European Commission said today after analysing draft euro zone 2024 budgets. “The aggregate fiscal stance for the euro area is projected to be contractionary in 2024 on the…
Read MoreConsumer caution warning as Black Friday approaches
It’s that time of year again when Black Friday advertising is inescapable. Offers galore are touted on social media feeds, in broadcasting and newspapers in the run up to 24 November. Buy, buy, buy, is the message, and do it quick in case the bargains do not last. Since Black Friday and Cyber Monday became…
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