Charlie Weston

1 week ago | buff.ly | Charlie Weston

Prices here are 38pc above the EU average – we are behind only Denmark when it comes to high costs. In 2015, prices in Ireland were 28pc above the average, but since then Ireland has been getting increasingly more expensive. The findings, from the statistics agency Eurostat, will put a new focus on the Government’s decision not to pay out universal cost-of-living packages in the next budget.

1 week ago | independent.ie | Charlie Weston

It was the 20th month in a row of rising home values. Prices were up by 7.5pc in the year to April, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). This was compared with a rise of 7.6pc in the year to March. Property prices in Dublin rose by 6.2pc, and prices outside Dublin were up by 8.6pc compared with April last year. The median price of home bought in the period across the State was €365,000.

1 week ago | independent.ie | Charlie Weston

The Banking and Payments Federation said holidaymakers were being targeted by fraudsters. The banking body’s FraudSmart division said thieves are zeroing in on holidaymakers with offers, particularly touting “recent cancellations” or “limited-time offers” at discounted prices. They are using highly convincing fake websites, online adverts and social media links, to do this.

1 week ago | independent.ie | Charlie Weston

Research also found that almost one in five found damage on a hire car that was not marked on the checkout sheet at pick-up. The survey, commissioned by CarHireExcess.ie, also found a similar proportion of those hiring a car had been talked into buying extra insurance at the desk when they picked it up. Results from the survey have prompted a call for people hiring a car to do their homework before they travel. This is to avoid feeling the pressure of the “hard sell” at the pick-up desk.

1 week ago | independent.ie | Charlie Weston

Surge of almost 50pc in cattle prices raises fears of higher inflation on food shoppingThere has been a big rise in cattle prices. Photo: Stock imageThere has been an acceleration in the rise in the prices being paid to farmers – a move that is expected to translate into further food inflation in the shops. The prices farmers are now getting for cattle are up close to 50pc in the year to April, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).