This time may be different but it will still be dangerous
There is also the harmless amusement to be gained from watching the unshakeable belief of so many that things will turn out the same. Not so harmless for them, mind you, if they invest their money on that belief – or plan their election campaigns.
The coalition, one hears, is determined not to repeat the mistakes of the 1997 campaign. Like the poet Wendy Cope, they will probably make a …
Your house will be worth 20pc more by 2017 – ESRI
Property prices are still undervalued despite the surges seen this year, the Economic and Social Research Institute said. It estimates that prices are set to increase by 6.5pc a year up to 2017. This means prices may surge by close to 20pc over the three-year period.
The ESRI has concluded that property will continue to increase in value until there is a huge rise in building output.
But it says …
50,000 will find a job as economic growth surges
The numbers at work will jump by 52,000 next year, with unemployment dropping below 10pc for the first time in six years.
The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has also predicted the economy will grow 3pc this year – much faster than the 2.1pc estimate from the Department of Finance.
Last night Tanaiste Joan Burton said that it was “quite possible” that the Government could hike its growth rate …
Irish services sector expands at slower rate in July
Irish services companies registered another sharp expansion of business activity in July, with the rate of growth only slightly weaker than June’s recent high.
The Investec monthly services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which covers businesses from banks to hotels, eased to 61.3 in July from 62.6 in June, but nonetheless signifies a sharp rate of expansion in business activity.
Irish services companies continued to increase employment during July, extending the …
Irish shares fall for a fifth day but Europe rises
IRISH shares fell yesterday for their fifth day while the major European stocks rose, rebounding from four days of losses.
By the close in Dublin, the ISEQ Overall Index was down 0.34pc or 15.86 points to end the trading day at 4586.54.
The leaders on the Dublin market included packaging giant Smurfit Kappa, which rose 2.4pc to €16.61, while fruit company Fyffes was up 1.4pc to €1.07.
On the other …
Building blitz needed to meet demand for housing
A new study of the housing market says we require 90,000 new homes over the next seven years – but 86pc of them should be within the Dublin commuter belt. The skewed nature of the market means that while a chronic shortage exists in some areas, there will be little work for builders in more rural parts of the country.
The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report says we …
The survey signals that hiring is now at its strongest level since mid-2007
A new report released by the Central Bank today shows that lenders are now more inclined to offer repayment solutions to family struggling to meet their mortgage costs.
But just of half of those who are three months or more in arrears kept to the revised payment deal offered by their bank, the report says.
And one in 10 troubled mortgage holders made no repayments after their mortgage was restructured, …
Businesses now hiring staff at fastest rate in seven years
The survey signals that hiring is now at its strongest level since mid-2007.
Despite increased activity and hiring, company confidence was marginally softer, KBC bank and Chartered Accountants Ireland said in a report published yesterday.
“The marginal decline in the business sentiment index may be disappointing but it isn’t at all surprising given the dramatic improvement reported in the second half of last year,” said KBC economist Austin Hughes.
“The …
Euro zone business growth accelerates but prices slide
But resilient growth in the bloc’s major economies bar France could not mask the deflationary pressure weighing on the region just two days ahead of a European Central Bank monetary policy meeting.
Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the euro zone’s service industry leapt to 54.2 from June’s 52.8, although that was down from a flash reading of 54.4.
That helped drive up the Composite PMI, which is based on …
SMEs must use strengths to attract talent
Recent forecasts from IBEC, the ESRI and the Institute of Directors in Ireland have all pointed towards growth and an increase in recruitment in 2014.
Our own experience very much reflects this. Hiring is ramping up and we’re seeing an increase in the ‘War for Talent’. In fact, even in the height of the recession a skills gap in many sectors, especially technology, prevailed.