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Monster Hit: How Labubu became a billion-dollar business

Labubu dolls have become a smash hit toy and fashion accessory, but they also represent a cultural watershed for China, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 05 Jul

A fridge too far: Why appliances lifespans got shorter

Household appliances don't last as long as they used to – but the reason is more complicated than you might think, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 25 Jun

Borrow-ito: Consumers taking on debt for a takeaway

Consumers are taking out lines of credit to cover the cost of their chips, and it's getting some market experts worried, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 08 Jun

Money Bags: How to get a handle on airline baggage costs

Staying on the right side of an airline's baggage policy can take work and planning, but failing to do so might end up costing you more than the price of the flight itself, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 31 May

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?

Business • 23 May

Brian O'Driscoll and fitness coach Caroline O'Mahony were served with compliance notices last year

O'Driscoll served compliance notice over social posts

Former rugby star Brian O'Driscoll and fitness coach Caroline O'Mahony were the two social media influencers served with compliance notices by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission for breaching consumer law by failing to disclose the commercial nature of their social media posts.

Ireland • 25 Mar

More than 1,350 flights are thought to be affected

Explained: Customer rights if your flight is cancelled

Heathrow is warning of days of disruption ahead, after a fire at an electricial substation that supplies it with power, closed the airport today.

Business • 21 Mar

Aengus Cox has been a multimedia journalist at RTÉ News since 2012, working across radio, television and online

Aengus Cox named RTÉ News Ag & Consumer Correspondent

RTÉ News has announced the appointment of journalist Aengus Cox as its new Agriculture and Consumer Affairs correspondent.

Business • 21 Dec 24

The number 13 has been considered unlucky for centuries - while Fridays have negative connotations of their own

Luckless: Is Friday the 13th bad for business?

There's no evidence that Friday 13th is unluckier than any other day, but it's a bad one for some businesses nonetheless, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 13 Sep 24

Buying an expensive coffee or adding a few high-end groceries into your weekly shop is all part of 'little treat' culture

Treat Yo' Self: Why 'little treats' are now big business

'Little treat' culture highlights the economic No Man's Land that young adults now find themselves in, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 22 Aug 24

The survey of 1,000 adults puts Irish consumer confidence at its highest level in almost two years

Falling energy prices help boost consumer sentiment

Falling energy prices and announcements of grocery price cuts have boosted consumer sentiment at the beginning of 2024, according to the latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index.

Business • 29 Jan 24

Netflix was a novelty when it launched here in 2012 - now there are more than 10 streaming services to choose from

Background Bills: The hidden cost of subscriptions

Subscription services have exploded in popularity in the past decade – meaning we may be paying much more for them than we realise, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 23 Nov 23

The prospect of bagging a pre-Christmas bargain has many people hunting for deals

Consumer caution warning as Black Friday approaches

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are being advertised, shoppers are being advised to watch out for scams as they search for a bargain, writes Consumer Affairs Correspondent Joe Mag Raollaigh.

Consumer Affairs • 22 Nov 23

Consumers plan to cut back on spending in shops, pubs and restaurants in order to ease the pressure on their finances

Most consumers expect higher costs this Christmas

The majority of consumers expect their Christmas shopping to be more expensive this year, according to a new survey from KPMG.

Business • 17 Nov 23

Bruce Springsteen used dynamic pricing at some of his US tours last year - which saw some tickets hit $5,000

Price on Demand: The growth of 'dynamic pricing'

We're familiar with it when booking flights, but now 'dynamic pricing' is creeping into more parts of our lives, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 15 Nov 23

The cost of producing dairy - from energy to feed to fertiliser - has risen dramatically in the past two years

Sunk Cost: Fallout of Ukraine war is seen in dairy

Dairy and eggs are everyday items for most households; they're also grocery items that have seen some of the most significant increases in the past two years. Much of the reason for that can be traced back to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Business • 17 Sep 23

The cost of wholesale energy has fallen sharply in the past year

Wholesale energy prices fell again in August

Wholesale electricity prices continued their decline in August compared to prices last year, according to the latest report published by the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO).

Business • 15 Sep 23

Consumers have seen milk prices rise steeply by 24% over the last 12 months, according to the CSO.

Supermarkets reduce price of milk amid IFA concerns

Customers of a number of supermarkets chains have benefitted this morning from cuts in the retail price of milk.

Ireland • 29 Apr 23

Most consumers have already benefitted from two Government credits and the third will be applied to bills from next month

Increase in calls to MABS as post-Christmas bills bite

January saw a 10% increase in calls to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service's national helpline compared to 2022.

Consumer Affairs • 12 Feb 23

Non-alcoholic beers now make up as much as 2% of the Irish market - but those in the industry believe there's room for much more growth

Dry and High: The boom in 0% drinks in Ireland

While some used 'Dry January' to take a temporary break from alcohol, more people are now opting to cut back all year round – leading to a boom in zero percent alternatives, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 07 Feb 23

A sign for a Black Friday sale in Dublin in 2020

Shoppers urged to beware of Black Friday scams

Gardaí are warning people not to get scammed by cyber criminals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Ireland • 21 Nov 22

The price of an average Christmas turkey is set to rise by around €8

Falling foul of price hikes - turkeys set to cost more

Consumers are being advised that they will have to pay more for a turkey this year for Christmas.

Ireland • 13 Nov 22

Beyond Yellow Pack: The own brand grocery revival

Own brand goods were once the butt of the joke of Irish groceries, but improved quality and challenging times have seen consumers here embrace these cut-price alternatives, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 29 Oct 22

Presentation by French Customs of counterfeit items seized in the Loire region

Faking it: The dangers of buying counterfeit goods

Holiday-makers may be tempted to buy fake designer goods on their trip abroad this summer – but it's never a good idea, according to the European Consumer Centres Network.

Consumer Affairs • 26 Jun 22

Fixed rates are often lower than variable equivalents - but that may start to change in the coming months

In a fix - should you lock down your mortgage rate?

ICS Mortgages has raised its fixed mortgage rates - and many expect other lenders will follow suit soon. Adam Maguire asks if borrowers should jump on banks' current offers before the tide starts to turn.

Business • 27 Mar 22