Practice News
China’s trade surplus with the US narrowed last year as the world’s two biggest economies exchanged punitive tariffs in a bruising trade war, new data show today. The figures come as the two countries prepare to sign a deal dialling down tensions. The huge difference in trade traffic is a key bone of contention […]
Read MoreNew figures from the Central Statistics Office show the number of new cars licensed for the first time fell by 6.5% in 2019, while the number of used car sales rose by 9.5% to reach its highest ever level. The CSO said that a total of 113,305 new private cars were licensed for the first […]
Read MoreThe threshold for USC is to be raised to allow for a previously announced increase in the minimum wage. This will benefit all taxpayers as well as ensuring those on the minimum wage will continue to pay USC at a maximum rate of 2%. Last month the government announced it had decided to raise the minimum […]
Read MoreThe grocery market hit a new milestone over the Christmas weeks, as sales in December passed the €1 billion for the first time ever. The latest figures from Kantar show that although sales growth slowed in the 12 weeks to 29 December, the grocery market weathered difficult trading conditions to increase overall sales by 1.5% […]
Read MoreStockbrokers Davy have revised upwards their GDP growth forecast for 2020 to 5.5% from 4.1% previously. Davy said the upgrade came on the back of strong foreign direct investment, expansion in the multinational sector and an exceptional export performance. The new forecasts puts Davy well above official projections including the Central Bank’s estimate of 4.3% […]
Read MoreThe Economic and Social Research Institute has found that mortgage holders can get a better deal when they read independent advice. However, the think tank also found some serious misunderstandings about how mortgages work. The ESRI and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission brought together a sample of 110 people with mortgages and gave them […]
Read MoreInternet and social media services could in future be blocked for not complying with online safety rules, if draft new legislation published by the Government today comes into force. Under the proposed new laws, internet companies will be legally obliged to comply with new online safety codes. If the legislation is passed by the Oireachtas, […]
Read MoreThe number of people signing on the Live Register is at the lowest level since January 2008, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show. The CSO said the Live Register total recorded a monthly decrease of 1,100 in December, which brought the seasonally adjusted total to 185,300. In unadjusted terms, a total of 181,996 […]
Read MoreNew figures from the Central Statistics Office show that annual growth in retail sales volumes slowed to 1.4% in November from growth of almost 4% in the previous two months. Retail sales volumes were 3.3% lower in November than October, today’s figures showed, with sales of medical and cosmetic goods and food, beverages and tobacco […]
Read MoreThe National Treasury Management Agency said it will hold one bond auction in the first quarter of the year on March 12. The NTMA covered around a third of its funding target for 2020 with a syndicated sale yesterday. It kicked off its funding drive by raising €4 billion via a new 15-year bond sale […]
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