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Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) could add up to €148 billion to Ireland’s annual GDP by 2038, according to a new report from Accenture. The research found that the technology could also deliver major productivity uplifts across the private and public sectors. Industries such as life sciences and financial services could see productivity gains of…

Consumers in Ireland expect to spend around 14% more on average this year on Christmas than they did in 2023. New research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) found on average, those surveyed expect to spend €1,177 over the festive period, up from €1,030 last year. One in four consumers said they anticipate…

New research from hiring platform IrishJobs shows that workers in the construction industry were among the most in-demand professions in 2024. It comes as the sector continues to face a growing skills shortage. Site managers were the most sought-after profession by employers in 2024, with demand growing 39% year-on-year. According to the research, the five…

The domestic economy expanded by 3.1% in the first nine months of this year, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office. The figures show personal consumption grew by 2.4% and wages to employees rose by 3% in the first nine months of the year, compared to same period a year earlier. Today’s…

Figures from the Residential Tenancies Board have shown an increase in the number of landlords across all categories. The figures show that between the end of September 2023 and the end of September this year, there was a 5.7% increase in landlord numbers. However, during the third quarter of the year, landlords issued almost 4,000…

Almost 70% of Irish employees are expecting an end-of-year bonus, new research shows. The study carried out by Workhuman shows that around half of employees are also expecting gifts from colleagues and managers. 37% of workers surveyed said they believe that bonuses and gifts are tied directly to their performance at work. “The festive season…

Optimism within the Irish SME sector is at its highest level for over a year, according to the latest SME Confidence Index from non-bank lender Linked Finance. Linked Finance noted that larger SMEs, which employ between 10 and 250 workers, are the most upbeat, reporting a positivity rate of more than 72% on the index…

The Central Bank has warned that Ireland’s exposure to global uncertainty and rising political and international trade tensions, raise the prospect of lower trade and economic growth. The regulator has also cautioned that with the economy performing at or above capacity, expansionary fiscal policy risks aggravating domestic pressures. The warnings are contained in its Financial…

The State could face a cost of €20 billion if it fails to achieve reductions in carbon emissions in 2030, according to an assessment by the watchdog which advises on the public finances. The figure is far higher than a previous estimate of about €8 billion from the Climate Change Advisory Council. In its latest…

It is “conceivable” that the European Central Bank will cut interest rates by 25 basis points at its next rate-setting meeting this month but not more, ECB policymaker Robert Holzmann said in a newspaper interview published today. Investors expect the ECB to cut interest rates at every one of its upcoming meetings at least until…