News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

Just 22% of consumers do believe the worst of the cost of living squeeze is over

Consumer confidence hit 14-month high this month

Consumer confidence here hit a 14-month high this month, as concerns eased about the economic outlook.

The index reached 55.2, up from 48.7 in December, and its strongest level since last June.

Consumer sentiment hits 7 month high in January

Irish consumer confidence hit a seven month high in January, according to the latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment index.

Business • 26 Jan 23

The latest KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment index dropped to 57.7 from 67

Consumer confidence falls again on inflation fears

Consumer confidence suffered its second successive sharp monthly drop as concerns about living costs that hurt the macro economic outlook in March spread into a weakening of spending plans in April.

Business • 21 Apr 22

While some will be compensated by faster income growth, many households will likely face a palpable drop in living standards this year

Inflation hit to households to average €2,000 this year

Consumer sentiment plummeted in March, according to KBC Bank Ireland, in what was the biggest month-on-month drop in confidence since the onset of the pandemic.

Business • 24 Mar 22

All five main elements of the KBC Bank consumer sentiment survey weakened in December

Consumer confidence drops, driven by Covid concerns

Irish consumer confidence dropped again in December, as concerns around Covid-19 and the cost of living intensified.

Business • 22 Dec 21

Increases in the cost of living and the rise in virus cases affected consumer confidence in October

Consumer confidence slipped in October - BOI Pulse

Consumer confidence slipped in October, according to the latest Pulse survey from Bank of Ireland, which found that consumers were more concerned about rising prices.

Business • 26 Oct 21

The increase in sentiment in August largely reversed July's drop from the 2 year high recorded in the previous month

Rise in consumer confidence not repeated elsewhere

Irish consumer sentiment improved marginally in August while confidence dipped in the US, UK and euro area.

Business • 26 Aug 21

Consumer spending continues to rise as the economic reopening continues, the report concluded, but it notes the lack of a broad-based 'feel good factor' among consumers

Consumer confidence dips marginally from June's high

Irish consumer confidence dipped marginally in July from the two year high recorded in June, according to the latest consumer sentiment index from KBC Bank Ireland.

Business • 23 Jul 21

Bank of Ireland's Economic Pulse fell to 61.6 in January, down 8.6 on the December reading and 24.5 lower than the same time a year ago

Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse falls sharply in January

Both consumer and business confidence fell in January after a return to Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions with schools and non-essential construction closed again.

Business • 25 Jan 21

One in six people plan to spend more on Christmas presents this year

Brexit hiatus lifts consumer and business confidence

Progress towards the achievement of a Brexit resolution has lifted consumer confidence this month, new research has found.

Business • 25 Nov 19

Consumer confidence fell back in the second quarter of 2019

Consumer confidence in NI falls amid Brexit uncertainty

Consumer confidence in Northern Ireland has fallen amid Brexit uncertainty, a survey has found.

Business • 30 Jul 19

Consumer confidence in the euro zone in January rose to 1.3 points from 0.5 points in December

Euro zone consumer confidence jumps to 17-year high

Euro zone consumer confidence jumped much more than expected in January, a flash estimate from the European Commission showed today.

Business • 24 Jan 18

Carpetright's fortunes are closely tied to the strength of the UK housing market

Carpetright warns on profit due to falling confidence

Carpetright, seen as a lead indicator on the health of the UK consumer economy, today warned on full-year profits, saying sales in the key post-Christmas period were significantly below expectations.

Business • 19 Jan 18

The result follows October's upward-revised reading of 126.2, which had also been a 17-year record, the survey showed

US consumer confidence drifts ever higher in November

US consumer confidence remained at a 17-year high in November, with optimism ticking higher for the fifth straight month, according to a monthly survey released today.

Business • 28 Nov 17

A spike in consumer confidence is common after presidential elections in France

French consumer confidence dips in August

French consumer confidence fell in August for the third month in a row, in line with expectations, data from the official INSEE statistics agency showed today.

Business • 25 Aug 17

John Lewis says trade in 'spontaneous' categories, such as beauty, is holding up

Demand for big ticket items weaker - John Lewis

John Lewis, Britain's largest department store operator, has seen a drop in demand for big ticket items as consumer confidence wanes.

Business • 14 Jul 17

Confidence amongst consumers is showing the greatest signs of recovery, the latest Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse shows

Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse falls for second month

Consumer confidence is rising but businesses are becoming increasingly uncertain, according to the latest Economic Pulse from Bank of Ireland.

Business • 26 Jun 17

Market research firm GfK said the index from its forward-looking poll of 2,000 consumers rose to 10.4 points for June

German consumer confidence up for second month in a row

German consumers remain in an upbeat mood for a second month in a row, dismissing risks on the horizon in view of a humming economy, a closely-watched survey showed today.

Business • 24 May 17

Irish spending growth is said to be 'significantly higher' than the growth in consumer spending in the UK, which averaged 2.8% in 2016, and Germany which averaged 1.9%

Consumer confidence, spending was higher in 2016

Consumer confidence and spending continued to improve in 2016, but was affected by the Brexit vote and the US Presidential election, according to the latest Consumer Market Monitor.

Business • 20 Feb 17

French consumer confidence at nine-year high

French consumer confidence for December stood at a nine-year high, the official INSEE statistics agency said.

Business • 04 Jan 17

Germany's consumer sentiment indicator, published by the GfK institute, fell to 10 going into October

German consumer morale falls slightly

The mood among German consumers worsened slightly heading into October but remains at one of the highest levels in more than a decade, a survey showed today.

Business • 28 Sep 16

The new figures show that the Brexit vote is not weighing markedly on euro zone economic activity - for now at least

Euro zone consumer confidence edges higher

Euro zone consumer confidence rose as expected in September, new figures show.

Business • 23 Sep 16

The decline in sentiment was unexpected, with analysts forecasting a slight improvement this month

US consumer confidence dips in April

US consumer confidence dipped in April, with fewer Americans seeing prospects of a pick-up in economic growth in the coming months, the US Conference Board has said.

Business • 26 Apr 16

A quarter of respondents said they planned to purchase a property in the next 12 months, while just under a third said they had no plans to purchase a property

Further house prices rises expected - survey

Three out of four people expect house prices to rise in the coming year according to a new property consumer sentiment survey.

Business • 18 Apr 16

GfK's headline household confidence index was forecast to inch higher to 9.5 points in March from 9.4 points

German consumer confidence edges higher - survey

Consumer confidence in Germany is improving slightly, continuing to shrug off terror warnings and economic uncertainties regarding the massive influx of refugees, a poll found today.

Business • 25 Feb 16

Consumer Confidence