Consumers more positive but still reluctant to spend

CONSUMERS are detecting signs of life in the economy but are resigned to seeing no dramatic improvement in their fortunes this year.

This is according to the latest KBC/ESRI consumer sentiment index, which shows consumers are more positive than this time last year but are still reluctant to spend.

Sentiment in Ireland is more positive than in other locations in Europe with experts saying that for Irish consumers the consequences of poorer public finances have been familiar for quite some time.