IT IS good to talk, according to those phone company ads.

FIGURES published yesterday hint at better times ahead for the economy – with nearly 50% of people thinking the recession will be over within the next 12 months and new home registration figures increasing sharply.

HARD-PRESSED consumers are going back to basics with research showing that coupons and the hunt for special offers in supermarkets are central to the nation’s shopping experience.

DESPITE the economic downturn, 46% of Irish people expect to see their income rise over the next 12 months, a survey by Halifax has shown.

WE may have been painted as a nation of spenders but recent studies show that the Irish are a nation of savers.

A large majority of property developers are pessimistic about the short-term future of the housing market, according to a survey published today.

One in four adults have made no financial provision for their retirement, a new survey has found.

CONSUMERS must overcome their reluctance to complain if they find poor hygiene standards in restaurants, takeaways and pubs, food safety chiefs said yesterday.

An Ulster Bank survey has revealed more than 50% of firms in the Republic of Ireland with up to 100 employees expect business prospects to improve in the year ahead.

A new survey looking into the future of Ireland’s personal wealth has found that 86% of women have no savings other than an SSIA and only 18% say they are likely to save in the future, with over half saying they are unlikely to save.

Internet dating is superficial and reduces human relationships to a commodity, Bishop of Killaloe Willie Walsh said today.

FARMING is blessed with positive thinkers judging from a recent survey of attitudes to the occupation.

CONSUMERS are wary of switching phone companies to get cheaper calls after Smart Telecom last year pulled the plug on 40,000 subscribers.

THE Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) annual conference speakers for this year have been chosen.

THERE was a time when people living in rural Ireland grew and produced their own food.

The 2006 Intranet research report of the Irish Computer Society (ICS) has found that 80% of large organisations surveyed said that employees are not taking full advantage of company intranets as an internal communications tool.

THE Ryder Cup might still be almost three weeks away but there are already fears that the only thing “epic” about the competition’s first staging in Ireland is the hype.

More than half of businesses which employ foreign workers say they are more productive than their Irish counterparts, according to a leading consultancy firm.

IRISH shoppers will be spending almost €55 million on the internet in the run up to Christmas, with concert tickets, compact discs and DVDs among the most popular items so far.

We will spend €55m on online purchases this Christmas, according to a survey by the communications regulator.

More than 40% of Irish home and work PCs have been affected by a virus in the past year, according to the results of a study released today.

IRISH consumers are avoiding takeaway food because of serious concerns over preparation and hygiene, a survey has revealed.

THE Government’s coffers could be down by as much as €185 million this year because people are smoking less since the introduction of the smoking ban.

ComReg’s quarterly report shows that revenues for fixed, mobile and broadcasting markets now stand at an estimated €3.57bn - up 3% on 2003.

THE GAA will not take a decision on the future sponsorship of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship until later in the year.

THE number of pubs may drop sharply over the next five years due to a decrease in the amount of people drinking, poor value for money and the smoking ban.

The ComReg quarterly report has revealed that mobile are users are sending more text messages.

IRISH net surfers will spend 330m on goods and services bought over the internet this year, experts predict.