Irish consumer sentiment remains gloomy despite slight rise on the back of budget measures

Pressures on consumer confidence seem set to intensify as winter weather emphasises high energy costs

Recent falls in Irish petrol prices alongside budget measures supporting household spending power helped Irish consumer sentiment in October.

Consumer sentiment in Ireland remains weak despite a small uplift in the wake of the Budget 23 measures announced last month.

The Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index — formerly the KBC Bank Consumer Index — increased to 46.1 in October, up from the 14-year low of 42.1 recorded in September.