Investment manager predicts 'sluggish' spending

Irish inflation at 2.2% is still heading in the right direction, but the gap between goods and services inflation remains, according to Eugene Kiernan of Irish Life Investment Managers.

Goods prices are basically flat on the year while services inflation is running at just over 4%.

Kiernan predicts that the Irish consumer may have a sluggish start to the year. Figures earlier this week showed spending sentiment dip a little from its post-Christmas high.