Robert Shortt

Economics Correspondent

Apartments made up 36.1% of the new home units completed in the first quarter of 2023 - the highest percentage of apartments since the series began in 2011

36% of new home completions in Q1 were apartments

The number of new housing units completed in the first three months of this year was 6,716, the latest Central Statistics Office figures show. This is an increase of 19.1% on the numbers completed in the same period last year.

Business • 26 Apr 23

ECB's Lane says not yet time to stop rate increases

The ECB's chief economist Philip Lane has become the latest ECB executive to indicate the bank will raise rates again at its Governing Council meeting next week.

Business • 25 Apr 23

Company profits rose by 30% in the final three months of 2022 compared to the same time in 2021 to just under €80 billion, new CSO figures show today

Company profits in Ireland jump 30% in Q4 of 2022 - CSO

A new report from the Central Statistics Office shows that profits made by companies rose by 30% in the final three months of last year to just under €80 billion.

Business • 25 Apr 23

The CSO had today published its Productivity in Ireland 2021 report

Foreign-owned firms more productive than domestic firms

Ireland has the highest level of greenhouse gas emissions per employee in the EU, according to a new measurement from the Central Statistics Office.

Business • 24 Apr 23

22.8% of households with a severely limited person were unable to keep their home adequately warm compared to a rate of 5.4% for households with no limited activity issues

People in poor health face higher risk of poverty - CSO

People in poor health are at a higher risk of poverty and deprivation, according to the Poverty Indicators by Health Status published as part of the Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2022 from the Central Statistics Office.

Business • 24 Apr 23

Philip Lane, the ECB's chief economist, was speaking at the Enterprise Ireland Summit in Dublin today

ECB's Lane expects rates to rise further in 'near term'

The chief economist of the European Central Bank, Philip Lane, has said surveys of market analysts carried out by the ECB indicate that expectations are that interest rates "will rise further in the near term".

Business • 20 Apr 23

Today's CSO figures follow a change in how the €2.7 billion allocated for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme is accounted

Exchequer surplus set to reach €16.2 billion next year

The Government is expected to run a surplus in the public finances of €10 billion this year, while its forecast for next year is for a surplus of €16.2 billion.

Business • 18 Apr 23

Residential property price increases slowed nationally to 5% in February from 6.1% the previous month

Property price increases slow to 5% in February - CSO

The annual rate of residential property price increases slowed nationally to 5% in February, compared to 6.1% in January, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show.

Business • 14 Apr 23

New CSO figures show that inflation eased to 7.7% in March from a rate of 8.5% in February

Inflation eases to 7.7% in March from 8.5% - CSO

The annual rate of inflation eased to 7.7% in March from 8.5% in February, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office today - the lowest level in 11 months.

Business • 13 Apr 23

Sentimental Irish journey for smiling Joe Biden

Biden in Ireland • 13 Apr 23