Business News
EU debt levels up in 2018 but debt-to-GDP ratio down Government debt levels rose in the European Union last year, according to Eurostat, but economic expansion in the region pushed the overall debt-to-GDP ratio down. The countries that use the euro had a combined debt of €9.86 trillion in 2018, up €99 billion (1%) year-on-year. […]
Read MoreLess than half of all employees have a private pension – CSO Less than half of all employees in Ireland were saving towards a pension last year, according to the Central Statistics Office. Its survey of pension coverage in the third quarter of 2018 found that 47.1% of all people in employment were contributing towards […]
Read MoreHousing completions up by over a fifth in first three months Housing completions were up by over a fifth in the first three months of 2019, according to Goodbody’s Housebuilding Tracker. It uses Building Energy Regulation (BER) data to compile its figures. The official data tracks electricity connection figures. According to Goodbody’s figures, 4,255 residential […]
Read MoreGovernment’s €300m Brexit funding scheme for SMEs opens Small and medium sized businesses here, as well as farmers, can now apply for loans under the Government’s Future Loan Scheme. The initiative aims to support strategic long-term investment in the post-Brexit environment where financing options may be restricted. Money borrowed can be use for a variety […]
Read MoreHome improvements and energy upgrades drive €2.47 billion spend Irish homeowners have spent a total of €2.471 billion through the Home Renovation Incentive since its launch in 2013. The scheme, which concluded at the end of last year, facilitated homeowners in carrying out nearly 150,000 home improvement projects over the last four years. The projects […]
Read MoreEuro zone businesses started second quarter with tepid growth – PMI Euro zone businesses started the second quarter on the back foot, with growth unexpectedly slowing again as demand barely rose despite more modest price rises, surveys showed today. The data comes a week after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi raised the prospect of […]
Read MoreIbec expects employment growth to slow down in 2019 The organisation representing employers here has warned the biggest challenge facing business is the ongoing capacity constraints in the labour market. Ibec says the shortages will cause growth in employment to slow this year as the economy approaches full employment and firms struggle to fill vacancies. […]
Read MoreCentral Bank seeks extra power to force banks to further increase their capital The Governor of the Central Bank has written to the Minister for Finance asking him to put in place measures that would enable the regulator to force banks to hold more capital if systemic risks increase. Philip Lane said the extra capital […]
Read MoreBooming economy sees incomes soar to record levels Household income is at a record high and continuing to grow sharply, underpinned by jobs and investment, according to a new report. In contrast to the Celtic Tiger, when notional wealth was linked in many cases to debt-funded property assets, rising incomes are underpinned by what are […]
Read MoreControversial copyright reforms get backing of EU countries European Union countries have adopted copyright reforms championed by news publishers and the media business, but opposed by US tech giants like Google. EU countries adopted the reforms that were agreed last month by the European Parliament, they said in a statement. “The new rules ensure adequate […]
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