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There was a strong positive correlation between income and capacity to use savings in a financial emergency in the 2025 survey

15% of consumers couldn't cope with a financial emergency

How would your household deal with an unexpected financial emergency costing €1,000?

The response to the measures introduced in Budget 2025 were muted

'Small bounce' in consumer sentiment after Budget

There was a "small bounce" in consumer sentiment in October, but little sense that consumers think Budget 2025 will dramatically improve the outlook for their household finances.

Business • 25 Oct 24

The August reading marks the first monthly decline since May and follows significant improvements in June and July.

Consumer confidence falls slightly in August

Consumer confidence dropped slightly in August, according to the latest Credit Union consumer sentiment index.

Business • 29 Aug 24

The latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey shows an index reading of 70.5 for June, up materially from the May figure of 65.7

Strong increase in June consumer sentiment survey

The consumer mood improved this month, according to the latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey, on the back of lower fuel costs and an ECB rate cut.

Business • 28 Jun 24

Third month of decline in consumer sentiment in a row

There was a marginal fall in consumer sentiment for a third month running in April, the latest consumer sentiment index from the Credit Union has found.

Business • 26 Apr 24

Consumers were feeling slightly better about their own finances, but were less confident about the outlook for the general economy, today's latest consumer sentiment survey shows

Consumer sentiment improves but anxiety remains

Consumer sentiment improved slightly in December and was significantly higher year-on-year, according to the latest report by the Irish League of Credit Unions.

Business • 21 Dec 23

Slightly more consumers are planning to spend more on presents (9%) than last year

Consumers plan 'a more positive but prudent Christmas'

Planning to cut back on Christmas spending is now a seasonal norm, according to analysis of the Credit Union Consumer Sentiment survey for November.

Business • 20 Nov 23

The survey also hints at a spending slowdown.

Consumer confidence drops to lowest level in six months

Consumer confidence dropped to a six month low in September, amid a rebound in oil prices, a further rise in interest rates and a gloomier economic outlook.

Business • 22 Sep 23

The biggest drop in sentiment came in the section that measured the outlook for household finance

Consumer sentiment slips for first time in five months

Sentiment among Irish consumers slipped for the first time in five months this month, amid bad news on the jobs front, global economic difficulties and ongoing inflation pressures.

Business • 24 Aug 23

The ongoing recovery in sentiment from the 14 year low seen in September 2022 suggests consumer fears are continuing to ease

'Consumers feeling strengths as well as strains'

The pressures facing Irish consumers are fading but are far from finished, according to the Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index, which showed the mood among consumers improved fractionally in July.

Business • 21 Jul 23

Although gas prices have moderated, food prices remain subject to inflationary pressures

Slight drop in consumer confidence after budget bounce

There was a marginal drop in consumer confidence this month, according to the latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index.

Business • 21 Nov 22

One in five consumers expect to face increased borrowing costs

One in four expect ECB rates to indirectly affect them

One in five consumers expects to be hit by higher borrowing costs while the majority of consumers expect higher ECB interest rates are likely to worsen their financial situation, according to the latest Consumer Sentiment Index by KBC Ireland.

Business • 18 Aug 22

The survey for May asked a special question on holiday spending plans, and the answer hinted at a resilience in people's personal finances

Holidays a priority despite rising cost of living

Irish consumers plan to spend more on holidays this year despite concerns about the rising cost of living, according to the latest KBC Ireland consumer sentiment index.

Business • 26 May 22

KBC Bank Ireland's consumer sentiment index climbed to 81.9 in January from 74.9 in December

Consumer confidence improves on easing of Omicron fears

Consumer sentiment in January recovered much of the loss it suffered in December in the face of a surge in the highly contagious Omicron variant, a survey showed today, with a further improvement expected next month.

Business • 27 Jan 22

The reading for this month stood at 86.8, effectively unchanged from the figure of 86.4 reported for September.

Consumer confidence holds steady in October

Consumer confidence held steady in October, according to latest KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment index.

Business • 22 Oct 21

Positive views as to the long-term implications of the pandemic were more common among those base in Dublin than elsewhere

Pandemic's impact will be positive for some - KBC

Almost half of Irish consumers believe the pandemic will have a lasting impact on their circumstances, according to the latest KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment index.

Business • 30 Sep 21

The ECB recently pledged to step up the pace of its monthly bond purchases to keep government borrowing costs low

Slight rise in inflation can be tolerated - economist

The euro zone and Irish economies can tolerate a slight rise in inflation and it should be interpreted as a positive development rather than something to be scared of.

Business • 22 Mar 21

The survey suggests that the Brexit deal may have given a limited boost to the January reading

Consumer confidence falls, as Covid worries grow

Consumer confidence fell sharply in January, as the number of Covid-19 cases surged following the Christmas period.

Business • 27 Jan 21

The KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment index rose to 74.6 in December from 65.5 in November (Photo: RollingNews.ie)

Consumer sentiment rises for second month in a row

Consumer sentiment rose strongly for the second month in a row to reach its highest level since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold after the reopening of large parts of the economy at the start of December, a survey found today.

Business • 16 Dec 20

The KBC Bank Irish consumer sentiment index jumped to 65.5 in November from 52.6 in October (Photo: RollingNews.ie)

Surprise bounce in consumer sentiment in November

Consumer sentiment showed a significant and somewhat surprising rebound in November which may signal a stronger outlook for Christmas spending.

Business • 24 Nov 20

Just over half of respondents said they expected their spending power would drop in retirement with a fall of less than 25% the most common expectation

50% of consumers to rely on state pension in retirement

Around half of consumers say they will rely on the state pension as their main source of income in retirement, according to a survey of consumers carried out by KBC Bank Ireland.

Business • 07 Oct 20

The KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment index increased to 60.7 in September

September consumer confidence sees modest improvement

Consumer sentiment improved marginally in September, recovering about half of the decline seen in August, a new survey shows today.

Business • 30 Sep 20

consumer sentiment slipped in August after local Covid-19 lockdowns and stricter nationwide restriction(Photo - RollingNews.ie)

Consumer sentiment slips on stricter Covid-19 measures

Consumer sentiment slipped in August after local Covid-19 lockdowns and stricter nationwide restrictions that the survey's authors said may cause some to re-assess how long the disruption will last.

Business • 24 Aug 20

As the economy grounds to a near halt, KBC Bank Ireland says the costs of Covid-19 could hit €30 billion

Government's Covid-19 costs could hit €30 billion - KBC

The final cost to the Irish state of dealing with the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic could be as high as €30 billion, according to an analysis by KBC Bank Ireland.

Business • 01 Apr 20

KBC Bank Ireland's consumer sentiment index rose to 77.1 in November from 69.5 in October

Consumer sentiment bounces as no-deal Brexit fears ease

Consumer sentiment recovered sharply from a seven-year low in November, posting its fastest monthly rise since 2015 as the risk of a damaging no-deal Brexit receded, a survey showed today.

Business • 03 Dec 19

Austin Hughes