Consumer sentiment rose in March according to the latest survey by KBC Bank Ireland and the ESRI, as people reported a modest improvement in their circumstances.
The consumer sentiment index stood at 97.8 last month, according to the bank, up 1.7 points on the figure in February.
The index is also 14.7 points higher than it was in April 2014.
The survey shows that consumers’ confidence has increased in most areas when compared to the previous month, with people more positive about their current condition and their expectations.
Respondents’ personal finances have also appeared to have improved with an expectation that this will continue, while the general outlook for the economy is also more positive.
There was a fall in optimism around employment during the month, however, which KBC Bank’s chief economist Austin Hughes suggests may be due to some high-profile job loss announcements.
Mr Hughes also says that the figures show a modest – but by no means dramatic – improvement in people’s circumstances.
He says this “cautions against exaggerating the scale of the upswing in the Irish economy as it currently affects Irish consumers”.
