THE Central Bank, predicting a slightly slower growth this year than last, could be seen as sending a shot across the bow in also pointing to the risks posed to the country’s export competitiveness by inflation.

House prices across Ireland grew by 11.8% in 2006, according to figures published today by the ESRI and Permanent TSB.

The European Central Bank (ECB) today raised interest rates for the fifth time since December, by a quarter of a percent.

House prices had the strongest start to any year since 2000 as they continued growing in February.

Depending on which side of the property market one may be, yesterday's house price index published by the Permanent TSB/ESRI made for alarming and perplexing reading.

The high price of living in Dublin was underlined today as it was listed among the 20 most expensive cities in the world.

RECORD levels of personal debt and an impending rise in interest rates will put additional pressure on borrowers, a leading economist warned yesterday.

THE slowdown in the growth of house prices has finally emerged with prices for first-time buyers dropping in January, according to the latest survey.

NEW research suggests that house buyers are not financially stretched despite taking out huge mortgages.

The Government must stop developers “hoarding away” land banks and pushing up property prices, opposition parties said today.