Irish Consumer Confidence Falls to 3-Month Low

Ireland’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index declined to 59.9 in October 2025 from 61.7 in September, marking a three-month low as the new national budget offered little relief to households facing rising living costs. The budget, unveiled earlier this month, included no changes to income tax bands and no one-off cost-of-living supports. Four of the survey’s five components weakened in October, with the sharpest declines seen in measures related to household finances. Economist Austin Hughes said the budget measures are expected to “drain spending power for the majority of consumers,” adding that a recent uptick in inflation has further dampened sentiment. He noted that consumers are “notably more negative” about their household finances compared with the post-budget period a year ago.