EUROPEAN Central Bank (ECB) rates are expected to stay at their record low level for at least another year, but steady hikes are then expected.

CONSUMERS are spending less but getting more for their money, new figures show.

THE car scrappage scheme has prised open consumers’ wallets to push retail sales up by 6% in a year, as new car sales surged 35.4%.

LENDING by Irish financial institutions continued to fall in April, reflecting poor demand from both businesses and consumers and a reluctance by the banks to provide credit.

RETAILERS are reporting a more positive outlook and believe the bottom has been reached as the volume of retail sales increased by 3.6% in March compared to the same month last year.

GROWTH will return to the economy next year but Ireland will be one of the last European countries to recover from the recession.

CHINA is expected to deliver growth of 9.4% in 2010, more than double the world average of 3.4%.

THE decisive and brave action taken by the Government is likely to be well received by overseas observers.

AS WE are only too aware this summer the only thing that comes down consistently here is the rain.

British Chancellor Gordon Brown was today warning the European Commission not to interfere in the Treasury’s spending plans.

The birth of the euro tomorrow marks the completion of the most ambitious project in the history of the European Union.