Dublin Consumer Sentiment Improves In Early 2016 As Consumers Outside The Capital Become More Cautious

The latest quarterly ESRI/KBC Consumer Sentiment Index for Q1 2016, published 28th April, finds that consumer sentiment in the Dublin area improved significantly but confidence among consumers in the rest of Ireland was largely unchanged from the previous quarter. Consumer confidence in Dublin was driven by a more positive assessment of prospects for the jobs market and the current buying climate. The dis-improvement in expectations elsewhere in Ireland reflected concerns about the outlook for the labour market and the economy over the next 12 months.