New lending rules for credit unions from January
The Central Bank has said it will allow credit unions undertake increased longer term lending, including home mortgage and business lending. From January next year, new regulations will remove the existing lending maturity limits for credit unions which cap the percentage of their lending for periods of greater than five and ten years. These maturity […]
Christmas still ‘make or break’ for many retailers
The average retailer still relies on the six weeks around Christmas for up to 30% of its annual trade, according to the Ibec group, Retail Ireland. The sector has benefitted from rising wages and an increase in disposable income across the economy in recent years. However, footfall on the streets of towns and cities across […]
European car sales up 8.6% in Oct, driven by VW rebound – ACEA
Passenger car registrations in Europe rose 8.6% in October, to their highest level since 2009, driven by robust demand in Germany and France. The figures were also boosted by a rebound in demand for Volkswagen cars, which posted a 29% gain. Registrations rose to 1.214 million cars in the countries of the European Union and […]
More time spent on social media than calls – ComReg
New research shows that consumers here are using our phones less and less for phone calls and more for messaging and social media. The research from communications regulator ComReg also finds that almost everyone in the country now has a phone – with Samsung and Apple the most popular brands. Consumers are spending about a […]
ECB has not reached limits of monetary policy – Lane
The European Central Bank has not reached the limit of what it can do on monetary policy, its chief economist Philip Lane has said. Despite unprecedented monetary easing, Professor Lane said the ECB still had further tools in its toolbox if needed, but added that they would depend on particular circumstances. “Let me emphasise that […]