24.10.202500:33:42UTC+00Irish Consumer Confidence Falls to 3-Month Low

In October 2025, Ireland's Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 59.9, down from 61.7 in September, hitting a three-month low. This decline coincides with the recent national budget announcement, which offered minimal respite to households grappling with escalating living expenses. The budget, revealed earlier this month, did not alter income tax bands nor did it include any one-off support measures for cost-of-living pressures. Of the five components in the survey, four showed a downturn in October, with the most significant declines observed in categories related to household finances. Economist Austin Hughes commented that the budget measures are forecasted to "diminish the spending power for most consumers," noting that the recent rise in inflation has further weakened consumer sentiment. He highlighted that consumers are "noticeably more pessimistic" about their household financial situation compared to the period following the budget last year.