Confidence rises as consumers start to spend again

CONSUMER confidence in Ireland is back in line with the European average as house sales increase threefold and shoppers start spending again.

The rate of consumer confidence doubled in March compared with a year earlier, according to the UCD Smurfit School and the Marketing Institute of Ireland market monitor.

It showed that in January, 658 second-hand residential properties were at “sale agreed” stage compared with just over 200 in the same month last year.