View this email in your browser THE IRISH TIMES Business Today Monday, 18 May, 2026 Editor's Note Good morning, reader With the summer holiday season approaching, as many as two in five Irish holidaymakers who hired a car overseas last year experienced difficulties, with long waiting times, hidden fees and misleading descriptions among the most common problems. A report from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) published this morning points to widespread problems prompting the watchdog to urge consumers to take precautions to avoid paying more when renting a car abroad this summer. Conor Pope has the story. Housing is back in the news, with a report from estate agent Sherry FitzGerald suggesting output will continue to improve over the next couple of years. Continue Reading Colin Gleeson   TOP BUSINESS STORIES Business Irish workers among most likely to get employer-provided training, Indeed data shows Business Home builds this year will be ‘in line or higher’ than 2025, Sherry FitzGerald says Business Irish SMEs creating jobs at the fastest pace in nearly a decade Business Two in five of us had problems with holiday car-hire last year, says watchdog Business Canada’s ‘doors are open’ for Irish and European businesses, entrepreneurs told Pilita Clark Why the biggest movers and shakers believe in the power of small talk MORE BUSINESS STORIES Business Will the Iran war kill off the era of cheap flights? Business Global indexes fall as bond yields rise Business Manager sacked over ‘industrial scale’ use of firm’s plant to build son’s house loses claim Business Firm behind Dublin’s Weston Airport posts loss of €1.27m following fire Do you have questions about becoming an Irish Times subscriber, or about your subscription? You'll find handy guides in our FAQs, and you can manage many aspects of your subscription in the My Account section. Never miss a business story Subscribe now for just €1 for your first month SUBSCRIBE