Business News

The European Commission is expected to signal a significant shift in its climate and transport policy, with plans to revise the EU’s effective ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035. The move follows sustained lobbying from major member states, including Germany and Italy, alongside mounting pressure from European carmakers facing…

The UK economy recorded an unexpected decline in the three months to October, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. The data shows that gross domestic product fell by 0.1% over the August to October period, defying expectations of flat growth and reinforcing market expectations of an imminent interest rate cut by…

New data from the Central Bank shows that the average interest rate on new mortgages in Ireland fell to 3.56 percent at the end of October. This represents a slight monthly decrease and the lowest level recorded since March 2023. Although rates have eased, Ireland still ranks among the higher-cost mortgage markets in the euro…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office indicate a notable uplift in planning activity, with permissions granted in the third quarter rising by 29.4 percent compared with the same period last year. This marks the strongest quarter of approvals since late 2023 and will likely be interpreted as an encouraging sign for future housing supply.…

Ireland marks a significant technological milestone this week, celebrating four decades since the country’s first mobile phone call. The call, made on 11 December 1985, saw the then Minister for Communications, Jim Mitchell, ring broadcaster Pat Kenny for a light conversation that happened to signal the beginning of a new era in Irish telecommunications. Ireland…

New figures from the latest AIB Purchasing Managers’ Index indicate that construction activity in Ireland declined again in November, marking the seventh consecutive month of contraction. The continued drop reflects persistent weakness in demand and a slowdown in new project inflows. The headline Construction Total Activity Index fell to 46.7 in November, down from 48.1…

Air travel in and out of London may look very different within the next few years. A UK aviation company has announced plans to introduce electric flying taxis for airport passengers as early as 2028, signalling a significant shift in short-distance air mobility. Vertical Aerospace is working toward regulatory approval for its new Valo aircraft,…

Every December brings the same familiar pattern. Days grow darker, routines get busier, and spending climbs far faster than many households anticipate. Surveys indicate that Irish consumers spent close to €1,200 on average last Christmas, with a significant number dipping into savings or turning to borrowing to cover festive costs. The pressures of the season…

Ireland’s construction industry recorded another month of declining activity in November, marking the seventh consecutive month of contraction, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index from AIB. The data signals ongoing pressure across the sector, with firms reporting a continued drop in new orders and subdued demand for building projects. The headline Construction Total Activity…

A new analysis from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has highlighted a notable weakening of competitive pressures across several key segments of the Irish services sector. The findings form part of the CCPC’s State of Competition in Ireland programme, which is reviewing developments in non-financial services over a fifteen-year period from 2008 to 2022.…