Consumer confidence shows rise at year-end

Consumers’ greater optimism in the state of their personal finances at the end of last year resulted in the second highest level of confidence seen since 2007.

The latest KBC/ESRI consumer sentiment index climbed to 90.5 in December from 85.3 in November, reflecting the increasingly positive, but still uneven, outlook among consumers.

Measures introduced in Budget 2015, low inflation, and greater clarity regarding water charges are proposed in the report as potential contributory factors in consumers’ improved outlook on their personal finances.