Employers' group IBEC has today expressed its disappointment with the manufacturing figures for August of this year.

IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, today said the recommendations of the Report of the Commission on Taxation reflected the need to modernise the Irish tax system and welcomed the fact that a low, broadly-based tax regime was recognised as central to ensuring that Ireland remained competitive.

IBEC have said the recommendations of the Report of the Commission on Taxation have welcomed the fact that a low, broadly-based tax regime was recognised as central to ensuring that Ireland remained competitive.

IBEC have welcomed the June retail sales figures published by the CSO which show that there had been a marked improvement in the trend in retail sales volumes.

A YEAR-ON-YEAR fall of “only” 1.7% in production levels among manufacturing and exporting firms in February, shows a certain level of resilience after a tough showing at the end of last year.

The number of people signing on the Live Register increased sharply again last month, according to figures disclosed by the Taoiseach this morning.

IBEC have called on the Government to show urgency in tackling the increasingly rapid rate of job loss in the Irish economy as unemployment rose to 9.2% of the workforce, a rate not seen in over 11 years.

EMPLOYERS’ lobby group, IBEC has called on the Government to introduce a number of short- term measures — including credit guarantees for viable small firms — aimed at underpinning the competitiveness of Irish firms which are most exposed to sterling weakness.

Exports of goods fell by an annual 5.5% and imports fell by 6.7% in the first quarter of the year, it has been revealed.

Industrial output grew by a strong annual 9.1% in March, but the first quarter figures recorded a much more modest 2% rise, according to the latest figures released by the Central Statistics Office today.

Manufacturing output figures for the month of February have recorded an annual increase of only 1%, compared with 2.3% in January and 10.8% in the last quarter of 2007.

IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, has said that two sets of statistics published today by the CSO provide further evidence of a slowing economy in 2008.

THE end of the Irish property boom will present Ireland with strong budget challenges in the years ahead, an EU Commission report warned yesterday.

PRE-CHRISTMAS sales helped boost retail sales in December and the initial outlook for 2008 looks reasonably well, despite a slowdown in economic growth.

The cost of living increased last year at its highest level for six years, it emerged today.

THE number of people in work is rising and has topped 2.14 million for the first time.

IBEC’s latest Quarterly Review released today revealed that the economy to date had performed well with first half figures for GDP recorded growth of 6.7% and a solid growth in manufacturing and exports.

Employers group IBEC has welcomed today’s CSO figures that showed manufacturing output in August was 10.2% higher than August 2006.

Ireland’s annual inflation rate slipped to below 5% last month but the cost of living remains high, new figures released today reveal.

IBEC has reiterated its opposition to attempts by the European Commission to introduce a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB).

EU internal markets commissioner Charlie McCreevy will break ranks with his fellow EU Commissioners today when they discuss introducing common rules for calculating company tax across the EU.

Irish business representatives, IBEC have said that a slowdown in the housing sector increases the need to boost exports in order to maintain current living standards.

EMPLOYER body IBEC warned yesterday the only way to beat the rising level of job losses was though higher productivity.

IBEC has said February's CSO figures for industrial production published today were "very disappointing".

INCREASING globalisation will pose a serious threat to both high-skilled and low-skilled jobs over the next decade.

FINANCE Minister Brian Cowen should ignore calls for a tax giveaway in the next Budget and instead bring in a new property tax, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said yesterday.

More investment is needed in highly-skilled, well-paid research and development jobs if the economy is to grow and living standards improve, it was claimed today.

SOARING fuel prices have added to the cost of living, with inflation rising to by 0.3% to 2.4% in July.

EMPLOYER'S body IBEC warned yesterday that an increasing lack of competitiveness could jeopardise Ireland's future prosperity.

EXCHEQUER figures for January show the Government has a €484 million surplus despite spending on health rocketing by 52%, over January 2004, to €1.15 billion.

A PROPOSAL to allow multi-national companies to use a common EU base for corporate taxes was condemned as the thin end of the tax harmonisation wedge by government and business yesterday.

INFLATION rose sharply by 2.3% in June, up 0.6% from the more modest 1.7% annual rate in May, yesterday's Consumer Price Index showed.

THE Exchequer may end up borrowing €1.1 billion less than expected this year, the Department of Finance said last night.

Employers group IBEC has predicted an economic recovery but has warned of increased inflation.

THE lowest inflation rate in five years could cut wage increases to close to 3% this year, according to key economists.

THE dramatic fall in the inflation rate from 2.9% to 2.3% opens the way for Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy to increase consumer taxes and charges in his December budget, leading economist Austin Hughes warned last night.

IRELAND’S inflation rate of 2.3% would be just 1.6%, but for continued increases in taxes and public sector charges it emerged yesterday.

The National Treasury Management Agency, established by the Government three years ago to cope with the country’s national debt, has taken over responsibility for dealing with personal injury and other claims against the state.

EMPLOYERS' group IBEC has called for a freeze on benchmarking payments to the public sector to ease pressure on finances as the economy stagnates.

PRICE inflation rose by 1% in February pushing the Consumer Price Index (CPI) up to 5.1% for the year.

THE Government was accused last night of giving up on tackling inflation following the announcement of Budget 2003.

POLITICIANS' views clashed yesterday in response to the slight dip in the annual inflation rate.

The employers body, IBEC, has warned that wage increases are seriously impacting on inflation rates and said that there is an urgent need for reduced expectation from employees.