Economic optimism among medium-sized firms sees significant fall-off 

Rising cost pressures and global volatility cited by Irish firms as undermining confidence in revenue growth, hiring and pay, survey finds

Just 54% of firms surveyed felt optimistic about the economy over the coming year. 

Optimism around the outlook for the Irish economy among Ireland's medium-sized firms for over the next 12 months has fallen sharply to the lowest level since the onset of the covid pandemic, as they grapple with increasing global uncertainty and rising cost pressures, a new report from Grant Thornton has found.

It shows that, as of the fourth quarter of 2025, 54% of firms surveyed felt optimistic about the state of the Irish economy over the coming year which is a sharp decline from the 81% recorded during the first quarter of 2025.