Consumer confidence low due to ongoing job fears

Consumer confidence in Ireland remains low due to concerns about the short-term future of the jobs market, according to the latest assessment by the ESRI and IIB Bank.

The two organisations say four-out-of-five people expect unemployment to increase in 2008.

This is around twice the number with similar sentiments at the start of 2007.

The ESRI and IIB Bank say overall consumer sentiment remains close to the all-time low point in July 2003.