INTEREST rates could be cut by the European Central Bank (ECB) by as much as 50%, according to Bank of Ireland — a move that would wipe off €360 a year off repayments on a €100,000 mortgage.

RECENT increases in yields on Irish bonds are unlikely to signify a change to investors’ trust in Ireland’s recovery, says a leading economist.

IRELAND and Portugal were the only European Union member states to register declines in consumer spending during the second quarter of this year, despite an average quarter-by-quarter rise of 2.5% across the EU.

CONSUMER spending trends are likely to worsen in the remainder of the year, according to Bank of Ireland.

The global economy appears to have slowed this year from the buoyant level seen in 2010, according to a report released today.

A tougher Budget than previously expected could be on the way, economists said today.

INTEREST rates may not rise as quickly as has been expected, according to Bank of Ireland’s chief economist.

IRELAND’S national debt is set to hit €173bn by the end of the year, an average of €81,519 for every worker in the State, according to Bank of Ireland chief economist Dan McLaughlin.

SOMETIMES you wake up with a bright idea and just go with it.

ECONOMIC growth will be weaker than previously expected this year, according to the latest Bank of Ireland forecast.

Bank or Ireland is forecasting that growth levels in the Irish economy will be more modest than expected this year.

HOMEOWNERS could be hit with increased mortgage costs today when the European Central Bank (ECB) announces if there will be any changes to interest rates.

AN ECB interest rate hike of 0.25% in April is a distinct possibility while the money markets have priced in two further increases before the year end.

Bank of Ireland is forecasting that the European Central Bank (ECB) will impose at least one interest rate increase in the coming months.

The European Central Bank has signalled a likely interest rate rise, according to Bank of Ireland’s latest Bulletin which was published today.

EARNINGS of publicly quoted Irish food companies could come under pressure next year, a new analysis of the sector has warned.

THE ECB’s decision not to increase the availability of debt to boost growthin the eurozone has resulted in the euromaking strong gains in recent days.

AN unexpected slowdown in the US recovery in the second quarter is undermining the dollar.

AN unexpected slowdown in the US recovery in the second quarter is undermining the dollar.

THE cost of borrowing to the state has eased since the Government put the cost of the banking bailout of €50 billion into the market on Thursday.

THE prices of essential goods and services have increased for the first time since December 2008, with the latest inflation figures showing a sharp rise in the cost of mortgages, clothes, education, travel, alcohol and insurance.

THE economy is on the road to recovery, but the outlook for jobs remains bleak, with 50,000 further losses forecast for 2010.

THE euro’s fall from grace will boost the growth prospects of the region, according to a new report.

HOUSE prices will not recover until mortgage lending increases and until buyers regain confidence in job stability, according to one leading economist.

THE Irish economy may have grown in the first quarter of this year according to Bank of Ireland, contrary to most predictions which said it would only start to recover in the second half of the year.

The Bank of Ireland Quarterly Economic Outlook has revealed that the Irish economy grew in the first quarter of 2010 with the export sector being one of the main contributors.

THE faltering construction sector and fading consumer confidence meant domestic spending fell more than the European average last year.

THE European Central Bank (ECB) left borrowing rates unchanged at their historic low of 1% following its monthly meeting in Frankfurt yesterday.

THE euro may face a stiff correction in the period ahead, according to two reports issued yesterday.

GROWTH in the economy of 1% this year is on the cards, according to Bank of Ireland, which believes the pick up in the global economy will lift Irish exports.

THE economy will deliver annual growth in 2010 of 1%, according to the latest economic report from Bank of Ireland.

The global recession is over and Ireland’s main trading partners appear to have returned to growth in the third quarter, according to Bank of Ireland’s Quarterly Economic Outlook.

The global recession appears to be over, according to Bank of Ireland's latest bulletin published today.

SHOPPER numbers at Irish stores fell 6.5% over the last three months as the popularity of heading North in search of bargains continues. This news comes as Bank of Ireland predicts house prices will fall by 10% this year.

THE year-on-year decline of 8.5% in the Irish economy in the first quarter of 2009 may turn out to be the bottom of the cycle.

INTEREST rates are likely to stay at their historic low until at least early next year, it has emerged.

Any recovery in the economy will be dependent on global events, as domestic spending in Ireland is likely to remain weak for the remainder of this year, according to Bank of Ireland chief economist Dan McLaughlin.

Bank of Ireland is predicting that the economy will contract by 7% this year, making it just the fourth year in the past five decades that Irish GDP has fallen.

THE cost of borrowing is expected to be cut to a record low today, resulting in further savings for home owners.

BANK OF IRELAND’S chief economist Dr Dan McLaughlin has predicted that the European Central Bank (ECB) will cut its benchmark interest rate by a further 0.5% to 1.5%, when its governing council meets next Thursday.

The rates of house price decline and mortgage slowdown has slowed, according to a report released today.

The US dollar has gained significantly against the value of the euro.

AN EU think tank says Ireland will have the fastest-growing western European economy between now and 2020.

STERLING, which has lost ground to most other leading currencies, will struggle to get back to its former trading range of 67-70 pence to the euro in the coming months.