Europe Economics Focus Is Ireland’s economic recovery a statistical illusion? The strength of Ireland’s recovery has been overstated due to a number of statistical distortions to GDP. But the economy does still seem to be on the mend. And the conditions are in place for Ireland... 30th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Are Irish and Spanish housing bubbles reflating? Revivals in Spain’s and Ireland’s housing markets should help to support their wider economic recoveries. While Spain’s housing recovery is likely to be slow, Ireland’s is already going strong. This... 27th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Recovery prospects clouded by Greece Recent indicators have brought signs of a renewed recovery in the euro-zone economy, reflecting the beneficial effects of lower oil prices and the decline in the euro exchange rate. But the picture... 8th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Are we overestimating the scope for retail rental growth in Dublin? Irish household debt looks high relative to both international and historical comparisons. Yet servicing costs are low, and rising house prices will boost net worth. Together with the positive... 31st March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Ireland GDP (Q4) Q4’s modest rise in Irish GDP appeared to confirm that growth is slowing from the very rapid rates experienced earlier this year, perhaps as statistical distortions have faded. Nonetheless, business... 12th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Feb.) After consolidating their fiscal positions in 2014, the peripheral economies had a mixed start to 2015. Ireland and Italy both fared comparatively well but Portugal and Greece struggled. 3rd March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Dublin set to see further strong office rental growth in 2015 Dublin office take-up reached a seven-year high in 2014, helping to drive rental values up by 34%. And, with the economic outlook strong and office supply conditions tightening rapidly, 2015 looks set... 19th February 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Jan.) The latest fiscal data suggest that the peripheral economies continued to strengthen their budget positions at the end of last year. But many look set to have missed their 2014 targets and Greece’s... 6th February 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Crisis 2.0? The onset of deflation in the euro-zone and the recent developments in Greece have served as powerful reminders of the lasting effects of the region’s debt crisis. The ECB will seek to tackle... 20th January 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Ireland GDP (Q3) Ireland’s small gain in GDP in Q3 leaves it on track to expand by close to 5% this year. But the published data may exaggerate the underlying strength of the economy. 11th December 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Outlook Further yield compression to boost capital values Further monetary easing from the ECB is unlikely to be decisive enough to put the euro-zone on a stronger growth trajectory, implying that the outlook for occupier markets is subdued. Nevertheless... 4th December 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Oct.) All peripheral economies narrowed their budget deficits in September but France and Italy submitted draft budgets that flouted EU fiscal rules. 3rd November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Stalled recovery adds to pressure on policymakers The European economic recovery has weakened, with the euro-zone now at risk of recession and countries outside the region feeling the effects on their exports. While the euro-zone’s peripheral... 13th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Ireland GDP (Q2) Ireland’s rapid growth in Q2 underlined its status as the euro-zone periphery’s poster boy but could prompt some concerns that it has entered another unsustainable boom. 18th September 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Early loan repayment underlines Irish progress The agreement amongst European finance ministers over the weekend that Ireland can start early repayment of its IMF loan highlighted again the rapid improvement of market confidence in the peripheral... 16th September 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Irish lessons for an independent Scotland There is much that the Scots could learn from their Celtic neighbours. Irish independence is a story ofeventual, not immediate success. It took nearly 80 years for Irish per capita income to catch up... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read