Finances of many households remain fragile with the impact of rate hikes yet to be fully felt

Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor, Central Bank of Ireland. 'The Bank’s renewed emphasis on properly assessing borrower capacity will be critical in 2024'.

Many who have been out and about in the run-up to Christmas this year have agreed on one thing; we are living in the era of ‘this month’s price’. 

With so-called ‘discretionary spending’ – a luxury available to too few – it is especially noticeable. Restaurants, pubs, retail outlets, gigs and shows all seem so expensive, though a plastic card helps to disguise the extent of the damage.