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Business Today |
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Wednesday, 08 April, 2026 | | |
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Editor's Note |
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Good morning, reader |
Government ministers will meet the agency responsible for the Republic’s strategic oil reserves on Wednesday as the war in Iran poses an ongoing risk to energy supplies, writes Barry O’Halloran. Ministers confirmed the meeting after figures showed taxes boosted Government finances in the first three months of the year, even as contributions to pension and infrastructure funds left it with a €200 million deficit.
The exchequer figures for the first quarter of the year are the classic backward-looking indicator, Cliff Taylor says, with the main impact of the war in the Gulf lying ahead. But the figures suggest the Government has room to respond further to rising energy costs although the scope for this is limited.
Meanwhile, shoppers face higher grocery prices in the months ahead as fallout from the Middle East crisis feeds through from suppliers, according to industry analyst Worldpanel by Numerator. But, reports Colin Gleeson, fears for the future did not stop consumers splurging an extra €2.3 million over last year on chocolates ahead of Mother’s Day.
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Dominic Coyle |
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