Employment prospects better, says consumer sentiment survey

Figures from IIB Bank and the ESRI showed a leap in consumer sentiment in December over the previous month.

The overall IIB/ESRI Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 103.9 last month from a level of 92.6 in November - its lowest level since May.

A more positive assessment of employment prospects was the key finding. More consumers now expect unemployment to fall than to rise in the next 12 months - this is the first positive balance since February 2001.