Brokers predict mild tax rises in budget

AN improvement in government finances means that Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy’s December budget may not be the draconian affair many feared, Davy Stockbrokers forecast yesterday.

In a briefing paper on the Irish economy, Davy chief economist and head of research Robbie Kelleher and economist Rossa White say many of the forward looking indicators had improved over the summer months, raising hopes of an acceleration in the pace of expansion of the economy in the latter part of 2003 and into 2004.

They believe the outlook for government finances has improved over the summer months.