Consumer sentiment rises after tariff pause but one in four people 'clinging on'

The Credit Union Irish Consumer Sentiment Survey showed its strongest improvement in the outlook for jobs between April and May

The survey shows the weakest elements of consumer confidence are related to household finances, likely reflecting a pick-up in grocery bills recently. File picture

Irish consumer confidence picked up marginally this month as the threat of tariffs receded but the overall outlook remains “gloomy” with confidence levels “well below” long-term trends, the latest Consumer Sentiment Index shows.

This month’s consumer sentiment index reading stood at 60.8 - up from 58.7 during April but significantly lower than the 74.9 figure seen as recently as January. The May survey reading is also some distance below the long-term survey average of 84.0.