More than half of low-income homes are 'just managing' to make ends meet 

Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse survey shows confidence has hit a new low due to surging energy bills and interest rates

Irish people are expected to come under further pressure with mortgage interest rates to rise on the back of two rate increases by the ECB, and two further hikes expected by year's end. File Picture: Gareth Chaney 

Consumer confidence in Ireland has hit new lows as the public grow more apprehensive about the economy, with energy bills and mortgage repayments on the rise.

One in three households are ‘just managing’ to make ends meet, according to Bank of Ireland’s latest Economic Pulse survey. The figure rises to 53% for households at the lower end of income distributions.