People saved notably less last month but were still putting more money away than a year ago, according to a figures released yesterday.

The number of people saving regularly has returned to a normal level for the first time in almost two years despite widespread dissatisfaction with government policy.

The Nationwide UK (Ireland)/ ESRI Savings Index, which measures overall sentiment towards saving, decreased to 95 in June, a seven-point decrease versus the previous month.

Consumers of all ages have increased their savings despite the fact that they believe that the Government’s policy is actively discouraging them from building a nest egg.

The introduction of water charges is going to suck money out of the economy and force people to save for emergencies instead of holidays and home renovations according to the Managing Director of Nationwide UK (Ireland), Brendan Synnott.

The number of people saving regularly has increased as the economy has recovered with people who had stopped saving in 2012, now managing to put money aside.

Just 23% of Irish people believe that now is a good time to save money, the lowest level ever recorded by the Nationwide UK (Ireland) / ESRI Savings Index.

Public sentiment towards saving money has reached its most positive level for nearly two years, a new survey shows.

Record levels of consumers are choosing to save their money instead of spending it, according to the latest Nationwide ERSI savings index.

An increasing number of people are looking to save their money following poorer-than-expected growth figures in Ireland leading to fears of the recession returning.

Uncertainty about the economy has led to consumers spooked by banking problems in Cyprus to return to hoarding their cash for a rainy day, according to the Nationwide UK (Ireland) ESRI Savings Index for March.

The majority of people feel that Government policies are actively discouraging saving, with taxes taking €1 in every €3 that savers earn in interest.

Government policy is actively discouraging people from saving money according to the majority of those surveyed in the ESRI Nationwide Savings Index.

The regular saver who puts €50 or €100 aside per month has “evaporated”, according to the managing director of Nationwide UK (Ireland), Brendan Synnott.

The number of people saving regularly declined in August, with 42% of people now not saving any money at all according to the Nationwide UK (Ireland)/ESRI Savings Index.

There has been a surge in the number of Irish people not making any weekly savings over the past year.

Four in 10 Irish people do not save a penny, according to a new survey.

Those who can save money are doing so, but the number of those who can’t afford to put anything by has risen, according to the latest Nationwide UK (Ireland) ESRI Savings Index.

Irish consumers can save money in sterling thanks to a range of savings accounts which have been launched by Nationwide Building Society.

The number of people not saving at all has risen, along with a widespread belief that Government policy makes it impossible for people to save.

Ireland has become a nation of savers, with 79% of people now having a savings account, according to KBC bank.

People are saving at record rates, with 48% saving regularly and one in five putting away as much as €200 per month.

CONSUMERS want to save money, but are slow to do so due to their uncertainty over the stability of the euro and DIRT tax hikes imposed on savings in the December budget.

ONE in three consumers are not saving at present — a slight increase over last month, the latest Nationwide UK (Ireland)/ESRI savings index shows.

CONSUMERS are saving less with the over-50s finding it especially difficult to put money away.

A QUARTER of surveyed savers feel they will be forced to put away less in the future as the financial crisis shows no sign of abating.

MORE people are saying that they are unable to save money with half of consumers saying they would use any spare cash to pay off debts.

CONSUMERS are saving more but spending less, with many stashing money away as a precautionary measure.

ONE-IN-THREE savers put aside more than €100 a month but the number of people stashing their cash away is falling.

A LITTLE more than one-in-three people under the age of 50 are saving regularly.

THE Nationwide UK (Ireland)/ESRI Savings Index increased by 19 points in January, recovering from December’s 11 point decline.

PEOPLE are now saving less money and more are using extra cash to pay off debts.

PEOPLE are now saving less money and more are using extra cash to pay off debts.

CONSUMERS are more positive in their attitude towards saving and are using less of their stash to pay off debts.

THE pressure to pay off debts meant fewer people were saving last month.

SPENDING cash is not on the minds of consumers with half saying they would use extra money to pay off debts and a third saying they would save extra cash.

SAVERS have been warned that time is running out to take advantage of exceptional interest rates being offered by the banks.

ALMOST half of people surveyed said they are now saving regularly with many believing the Government is doing nothing to encourage a savings culture.

PEOPLE are expressing less extreme positive views on the need to save and are more optimistic about economic conditions.

THE savings bug that captured the nation in the midst of the downturn has begun to contract, according to a survey.

BRITISH building society Nationwide said it is on track to beat expectations for its first full year of trading in the Irish market.