News

The Trump administration is in talks with Intel to have the US government potentially take a stake in the struggling chipmaker, Bloomberg News reported today, citing people familiar with the plan. Such a move would mark another intervention by US President Donald Trump in industries seen as vital to national security. Trump has pushed for […]

Fossil fuels were Ireland’s primary energy source last year, accounting for 81% of primary energy supply, according to an analysis of global energy data by KPMG. Ireland now ranks 8th globally for wind and solar penetration as a share of total electricity generation however, though the growth in electricity demand outpaces the development of renewables. […]

New figures out today show that car loan volumes and values reached their highest levels on record in the first quarter of this year. The latest Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) Personal Loans Report shows that the number of car loans rose by 21.5% year on year to 19,552, while the value of these […]

Britain’s economy grew by a faster-than-expected 0.3% in the second quarter of 2025 after growth of 0.7% in the first three months of the year, offering a boost to finance minister Rachel Reeves, official figures showed today. Economists polled by Reuters, as well as the Bank of England, had forecast 0.1% growth in gross domestic […]

The average interest rate on new mortgages in Ireland fell slightly in June, according to new figures from the Central Bank. The average interest rate on new mortgages was 3.6%, down one basis point from 3.61% in May. The average fixed rate was 3.52%, while the average variable was 4.08%. Despite the downward trend, Ireland […]

Budget Day will take place on Tuesday, 7 October, according to Government sources. Budget 2026 comes against the backdrop of 15% tariffs on goods exported to the US, and threats by US President Donald Trump of even higher tariffs on pharmaceuticals. Last month, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform […]

64% of Irish SMEs were unaffected by crime in the past 12 months, according to new research by ISME. Of the 36% which did experience crime, 68% were targeted more than once. Anti-social behaviour, vandalism, burglary and phishing attacks were the most common offences. For businesses affected, the costs are considerable with 28% reporting increased […]

US consumer prices increased moderately in July, though rising costs for goods because of import tariffs led to a measure of underlying inflation posting its largest gain in six months. The US consumer price index rose 0.2% last month after gaining 0.3% in June, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said today. In the […]

What does ageism in the workplace look like? It can be hiring bias, stereotyping, early layoffs, forced retirement, microaggressions or exclusion. Sometimes it’s loud and visible; other times it’s subtle and silent. Unlike many other forms of workplace discrimination, ageism often remains invisible and undiscussed, yet it profoundly affects the lives, careers, and mental well-being […]

Australia’s central bank cut its key interest rate to its lowest in two years today, but warned global challenges continue to cause uncertainty. The Reserve Bank of Australia cut the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.6%, citing steady progress in bringing inflation down. “Uncertainty in the world economy remains elevated,” the bank’s monetary […]