Business News

There was a 2% increase in the number of completions in the first three months of this year in comparison to the same time last year, according to the latest figures on home building from the Central Statistics Office. The CSO said there was a 13.4% rise in apartment building with 1,781 units completed but…

Consumers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland expect a weaker economy, less favourable job prospects, and higher inflation over the next five years, a new survey suggests. The research – undertaken on behalf of credit unions on the island of Ireland – indicates that people are increasingly concerned by issues around tariffs, infrastructure…

The Government missed its target on new build social homes last year, with a shortfall of more than 1,400. Minister for Housing James Browne said he expects each local authority to do everything possible to meet their targets for 2025. Figures released today show that the target for delivering affordable homes was exceeded. The data…

Economic pressures from steep new US tariffs will push global public debt above pandemic-era levels to nearly 100% of global GDP by the end of the decade as slower growth and trade strain government budgets, the International Monetary Fund said today. The IMF’s latest Fiscal Monitor projected that global public debt will grow 2.8 percentage…

European airlines are set to report first-quarter results in the coming weeks, offering outlooks for the lucrative travel season amidst growing worries that economic uncertainty could slow demand and threaten earnings. That comes after the European Travel Commission noted in a study published today that Europeans are making fewer travel plans for this summer on…

Euro zone inflation could be a touch higher this year than earlier thought but will then stabilise at the European Central Bank’s 2% target, the bank’s Survey of Professional Forecasters showed today. The ECB cut interest rates for the seventh time in a year last Thursday, arguing that disinflation was well on track and risks…

The International Monetary Fund has sharply cut its growth forecasts for this year because of the disruption caused by the tariffs on imports introduced by the US. It says the tariff regime introduced on 2 April by the Trump administration will cut global economic growth by half of one per cent – reducing it to…

Wind farms provided 38% of the country’s electricity in first three months of 2025, according to a report by Wind Energy Ireland. Kerry wind farms led the way last month, producing more wind energy than any other county at 135 GWh. It was followed by Cork (125 GWh), then Galway (89 GWh), Mayo (87 GWh)…

Gold prices soared to a record high, hitting the crucial $3,500 mark today, as concerns over US President Donald Trump’s criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell dampened risk sentiment and drove investors towards safe-haven bullion. Spot gold was up 2.2% at $3,493.41 an ounce this morning, after touching a record high of $3,500.05 per…

Ireland faces the threat of higher electricity prices as it transitions away from fossil fuels to renewables, a new report by the National Economic and Social Council has found. The reports also warns the reliability of the energy supplies “may worsen” as Ireland moves to cleaner power generation if issues are not addressed. The State…