Signs of an economic acceleration? What's wrong with 4 - 5% interest rates? Zero rates were caused by crisis - we need a dose of normal
A bitcoin sceptic repents
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For the past year or so we have been noticing weakness in Irish exports, particularly pharmaceuticals and one or two other key areas. Falling exports were a big driver of the Irish 'recession' last year.
At least part of this was Covid related and the fall represented payback for the massive boost arising from exports of vaccine and other health related products during the pandemic.
It's only one month's data, so shouldn't be over-interpreted, but latest numbers hint at two things. First, normalisation of exports may be close. Second, as the quintessential small open economy, Ireland is a bell-weather for the world economy. Maybe there is a hint of global trade and global growth picking up.
Maybe the U.S. won’t cut rates at all this year?
Irish inflation continues its fall.
Oil prices edging up again.
China - the one economy where we cannot talk about a positive growth surprise.
interest rates at current levels are maybe the new normal?
Macron’e Ukrainian epiphany
Jim disappears down the crypto rabbit hole
Happy St Patrick’s day! Ireland’s soft power is worth billions. Only idiots begrudge its exercise.
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It appears the EU has taken the podcast’s recommendation and is making the budget setting process less political and more long-term in nature - see today’s article on this topic in the business post. For the reasons discussed on the podcast previously, this is a positive development and should allow for longer-term considerations in setting the budget.
I’m pretty amazing the economic world is so buoyant seeing as we have nasty wars in Europe and Africa and what looks like a right wing deluge marching in too many countries 💔