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Shoppers queue in front of a closed shop of Swiss watch company Swatch

Time and again: How consumer frenzies have a rich history

You might think the frenzy around Swatch's €400 pocket watch is proof that younger people have lost the run of themselves, but these kinds of consumer frenzies are nothing new, writes Adam Maguire.

SpaceX's Starship 39 rocket launches from Starbase during the 12th test flight as seen from South Padre Island, Texas

SpaceX carries out mostly successful Starship test flight

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 22: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Kevin Warsh (L) as they arrive to Warsh's swearing-in ceremony to be the new Chairman of the Federal Reserve in the East Room of the White House on May 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. Wars

New US Fed chief sworn in at White House

A stylised RTÉ Clarity graphic with a finger on a light switch in the left foreground and electricity bills in the middle and right background

Why are Ireland's electricity prices the EU's highest?

Home finances, paying bills, cost of living

Consumer sentiment improves in May - survey

An ambulance leaves the National Ambulance Centre as striking members of the National Ambulance Service keep an emergency service available

Unions stand down next week's planned ambulance strike

Hand holding a remote control, browsing streaming services on a smart tv

Italy busts €300 million streaming piracy ring

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde

'EU in stagflationary trend, must not risk fiscal crisis'

Markets More

Middle East Turmoil

IDA told Ireland must work harder to win FDI - briefing

Oil up as investors doubt breakthrough in US-Iran talks

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde

'EU in stagflationary trend, must not risk fiscal crisis'

a German flag with a candle stick graph imposed on it

German Ifo business sentiment unexpectedly rises in May

UK finance minister Rachel Reeves

UK borrows more than expected amid Iran war challenges

Richemonth owns a host of luxury brands, including watchmakers IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Piaget

Richemont beats Q4 sales forecast despite Middle East hit

Home finances, paying bills, cost of living

Consumer sentiment improves in May - survey

A vessel is anchored off the coast of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates on May 21, 2026. Iran's new body overseeing the Strait of Hormuz said its claimed area of control extends to Emirati waters, drawing a sharp rebuke from the Gulf neighbour. Traffic

No full Hormuz flows until 2027 - UAE's oil giant

A female politician in a green suit stands at a petrol station

UK reforms oil tax loophole to fund cost of living help

Walmart sticks to annual targets despite fuel shock

Fertiliser in a bag.

Agriculture Dept worried about panic buying of fertiliser

The EU predicts that the Irish economy will stabilise and turn positive in 2027 with growth of 3.4%

Irish GDP set to fall by 1.2% this year - Commission

Technology & Innovation

More Technology & Innovation

Lenovo shares surged 15% today and were the biggest percentage gainer in the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong

Lenovo Q4 revenue tops estimates on strong PC sales

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BT ramps up cost cutting as annual earnings flatline

Ubisoft flags more losses after record hit

A Nvidia chip is seen through a magnifying glass on a green motherboard

Nvidia bets on new data centre chips for growth

If successful, the listing of the rocket and satellite giant would dwarf any IPO in history

Elon Musk eyes Wall Street record with SpaceX IPO

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Chartered Accountants reject AI 'replacement' narrative

GagaMuller has helped to build data centres in Ireland, Finland, the UK and US

GagaMuller to create 70 jobs as part of €2m investment

More Technology & Innovation

Work

The RTE radio and television campus in Donnybrook

Journalist's bid for higher grade fails at Labour Court

The number of people in the labour force increased by 18,000 or 0.6% to 2,936,300 in the first quarter of 2026 - the lowest annual increase in five years

Increase in unemployment amid drop in tech jobs - CSO

A grey office building with the Samsung branding

Samsung shareholders vow legal action over union deal

Galway Ambulance Service protesting this morning

Ambulance service pay dispute talks resume

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Café manager wins €3,500 over 'Sofia Vergara' remarks

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Firm told to pay former worker €40k for unfair dismissal

Workplaces struggling to keep up with rise of AI - survey

More Work

Your money

More Your money

Home finances, paying bills, cost of living

Consumer sentiment improves in May - survey

Woman calculating financial bills and receipts at home

Financial abuse awareness campaign launched

Quick payment solutions for cafe purchases. Cropped woman makes a purchase at a cafe using her phone

Bank of Ireland warns of rise in card tapping scams

Pay transparency directive - what it means for businesses

Petrol pumps are seen on a petrol station forecourt,=

Fuel prices ease in May but remain elevated - AA Ireland

The exterior of a modular home that is in Limerick

Modular homes in gardens liable for local property tax

Irish mortgage rates are the seventh highest in the euro area

Irish mortgage rates inch again higher in March

Personal loan activity surges 20% in 2025 to hit €2.9bn

Image of three women standing on a balcony with one of then holding a copy of a new report

79% of workers feel unprepared for retirement - survey

PrepayPower electricity prices to rise 8.8%, gas by 10.6%

Content creator Britney Nolan's content was used by scam sites

'Completely suckered': Fake brands steal faces to scam shoppers

A person checks the temperature of an electric heater

One in 7 households couldn't afford adequate heat - ESRI

Analysis & Comment

More Analysis & Comment

Shoppers queue in front of a closed shop of Swiss watch company Swatch

Time and again: How consumer frenzies have a rich history

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Leinster House abuzz over RTÉ spending, payments circus

Analysis and Comment

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Be our guest: The price problem facing Disneyland

Analysis and Comment

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What does the Trump-Xi summit mean for the rest of us?

Analysis and Comment

Your next career move could hinge on what you do with a dirty coffee cup

Hire Power: The odd tactics firms are using to find staff

More Analysis & Comment

Business Brainstorm

More Business Brainstorm

How Claude's AI model may cause security issues for your money

Why the in-person interview still matters when it comes to hiring

Elon Musk pictured with the World Economic Forum signage behind him

As SpaceX preps for IPO liftoff, how will voting controls work?

Woman on laptop using mouse (Photo by Marek Levák on Unsplash)

Why every click made at work could be training your replacement

Businesswoman riding on the back seat of the luxury car and using smart phone for business correspondence

Could being rude to a taxi driver cost you a dream job?

DUBLIN, IRELAND - 2021/02/13: People seen walking by an open Bewley's Cafe in Dublin city center, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Level 5 lockdown restrictions are set to be extended by Irish Government, by at least another six weeks with only scho

Why are so many companies becoming B Corps?

Sunrise Aerial over the City Hall Belfast, Northern Ireland

Is Northern Ireland a cost, or the scale Ireland's economy needs?

a woman standing behind a commercial kitchen shelf with plates looking over her shoulder

What's it like to be a hospitality worker in Ireland today?

All you need to know about Polymarket and prediction markets

Prediction markets

Young businesswoman speaking to colleagues in modern conference room

Are women seen as being as charismatic as men in the workplace?

Work and careers

The rise and fall of the biggest lottery in the world

Irish Hospital Sweepstakes

Close up of unrecognizable man counting euros.

Is cutting income tax a good solution for cost of living crisis?

Business Watch and Listen

Home finances, paying bills, cost of living

Consumer sentiment improves in May - survey

Flannery - Temple Bar - Dublin Ireland March 1985 copyright David Ryan Dano Dublin Images

Dublin's Temple Bar celebrates 35 years of business

Credit Unions top reputation ranking for fourth year

If successful, the listing of the rocket and satellite giant would dwarf any IPO in history

Elon Musk eyes Wall Street record with SpaceX IPO

GagaMuller has helped to build data centres in Ireland, Finland, the UK and US

GagaMuller to create 70 jobs as part of €2m investment

BTS modern apartments 169

'Sharp' increase in rent prices as new rules in effect

Nearly half of employers reduce entry roles amid AI rise

Three men and a woman pose for a photo with the Kinisla branding behind them on a green background

Former Kerry dairy business rebrands as Kinisla

Michael O’Leary, CEO Ryanair

Ryanair says risk of fuel shortages receding

Quick payment solutions for cafe purchases. Cropped woman makes a purchase at a cafe using her phone

Bank of Ireland warns of rise in card tapping scams

Mooney in top 10 earners from 2020 if recategorised

Image shows a postage stamp with a picture of a traditional Irish Traveller wagon against a blue background.

New stamps celebrate Traveller history and culture

The Business of Climate

More The Business of Climate

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Experts call for Re-turn infection control measures

CDP Ireland Network brings together corporate leaders in sustainability and other stakeholders with the aim of encouraging companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information

Record 12 firms in Ireland achieve top climate rating

An electric car being charged on a street in London

Trip hazard solution for EVs at homes without driveways

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20 million vapes sold in Ireland last year not recycled

Emissions from electricity in Ireland 40% below 2018 levels

Electricity emissions fall for third consecutive year

a row of white electric cars plugged into charging stations

Number of new electric cars licensed in April soars 73%

DUBLIN, IRELAND - 2021/02/13: People seen walking by an open Bewley's Cafe in Dublin city center, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Level 5 lockdown restrictions are set to be extended by Irish Government, by at least another six weeks with only scho

Why are so many companies becoming B Corps?

More The Business of Climate

Agribusiness

More Agribusiness

Deere beats second-quarter profit estimate

Fertiliser in a bag.

Agriculture Dept worried about panic buying of fertiliser

Close-up shot of a heap of fertiliser

EU Commission launches plan to address fertiliser costs

Three men and a woman pose for a photo with the Kinisla branding behind them on a green background

Former Kerry dairy business rebrands as Kinisla

Niall Browne, the CEO of Dawn Meats, pictured at a fence in the countryside

Dawn Meats buys Germany's Alexander Eyckeler

Tirlán Co-op appoints O'Brien as its new Chairperson

Carbery Group adds to its Flavours portfolio in US

Herd of cows on the field (Holstein cattle)

Reduced methane cattle burps among €37.5m Agri projects

Mercosur flags flying high. Several flagpoles with Mercosur flags. Latin American flags. South American flags.

EU kickstarts Mercosur pact to counter US trade hit

Kerry today reported volume growth of 3.1% for the first three months of the year

Kerry eyes earnings per share growth of 6-10% for 2026

Housing order for all poultry, captive birds to be lifted

Carbery Group is a West Cork based ingredients, flavours, and cheese producer

Cork's Carbery Group posts 8% increase in 2025 revenues