Consumer sentiment rose to its highest level in nearly two years in April, according to figures from IIB Bank and the ESRI.
Their consumer sentiment index moved up to 90.8, compared with 86.9 in March. This was the ninth consecutive rise.
The index of current economic conditions climbed to 99.8 from 96.1, while the expectations index - which measures how consumers feel about economic prospects for coming year - was up from 80.7 to 84.7.
David Duffy of the ESRI said consumers appeared to be more positive about the outlook for the labour markets. IIB economist Austin Hughes said the figures suggested that a significant economic upturn was underway, adding that Irish consumers were not subject to 'feelbad' factors in other countries, such as jobs worries in the US or fears of higher interest rates in the UK.
