Irish builders increase output in April despite concerns over US trade policies
Construction activity in Ireland grew again last month but at a slower pace as companies responded to sustained new order growth.
The AIB Construction PMI also shows employment and purchasing activity increased last month, while companies remained optimistic regarding the year-ahead outlook, despite some worries regarding the impacts of US trade policy.
The index posted 52.4 in April, down from 53.9 in March but still above the 50.0 no-change mark and signalling a second consecutive month of growth in Irish construction activity.
According to the survey, the companies that saw activity increase linked this to improving customer demand and an associated increase in new orders.
The rise in construction activity was broad across the three categories, residential, commercial and civil.
The fastest increase was in commercial activity, which expanded for the third month running and at a solid pace.
The slowest increase in activity was on housing projects, but growth has now been sustained in the residential category for eight months running.
AIB chief economist David Murphy said the improved demand conditions were reflected in new orders expanding for a third straight month.
This backdrop of new projects saw firms continue to increase their staffing levels. Indeed, the pace of employment growth accelerated in April.
"Construction sector firms retained an optimistic view on the prospect of increasing activity levels over the coming 12 months.
"However, some firms did reference the potential drag on activity levels from US trade policy as being a source of concern," Mr Murphy said.
On the price front, firms recorded a further sharp rise in their input costs during April.
Improving demand for materials often resulted in suppliers hiking their prices in April, with the rate of input cost inflation remaining sharp and above the series average during the month. Subcontractor rates also increased rapidly, and at the fastest pace for a year
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Playfina casino review: Up to €3,500 bonus and 1,000 Free Spins
TODAY, we are taking a look at Playfina. While it is not the newest kid on the block, it definitely operates like a pro. Besides providing thousands of games, regular bonuses and a VIP club you could only dream about, Playfina features regular challenges, tournaments, and loot boxes. We took this one for a proper spin. In this Playfina casino review, we'll walk you through the good, the potential drawbacks, and everything in between, from casino offers to payments, game variety and even customer support. 🧑⚖️ The Irish Sun verdict - Rating 4.6/5 Playfina is a modern gambling site with lots to offer Irish players, starting with a generous welcome bonus and extending to big-brand game titles of all kinds. It's a fully licensed casino with proper security measures, a wide range of payment options for Irish users, and plenty of promos and tournaments to keep everyone busy. Playfina Ireland also takes responsible gambling seriously, which is a green flag for new users. All this allows us to give Playfina a solid "Sun Factor" rating, and why we list it among the ⚡ Playfina casino quick facts Playfina online casino is best known for its high monthly withdrawal limits, regular promos and multiple payment methods. Let's get to know it better: 🌐 Website 📅 Year founded 2023 📃 Licenses Curaçao Gaming License 🎰 No. of games offered 10,000+ from 82 software providers 💳 Payment methods Visa, MasterCard, Skrill, Neteller, Interac, Neosurf, Rapid Transfer, Maestro, CashtoCode, AstroPay Card, Paysafecard, MiFinity, Payz, MuchBetter, eZeeWallet 💬 Email support@ 📱 App No, but it's mobile-optimised 💰 Playfina bonuses and promotions for Irish players 4 All new Irish players are in for a welcome treat of All week long, you can claim daily deposit match bonuses and free spins . Playfina also gives you the chance to take part in the Lootbox Treasure Trail with prizes of up to €10,000 and Playfina Lottery for up to €9,000. You can also celebrate your birthday with Playfina's Birthday Bonus or elevate your gameplay with their High Roller Bonus that offers up to a 50% bonus on deposits of €1,000 or more. In addition to Playfina's Tournaments and Challenges , you can progress through over 100 levels in Playfina's Loyalty program to collect over €1m and more than 3,000 free spins along the way. The VIP Club also offers a dedicated VIP concierge, exclusive bonuses, VIP gifts, cashback systems, faster withdrawals and high roller royalties. READ MORE SUN STORIES 🎰 Playfina casino games and providers 4 If there's one casino that covers it all, from classic slots to bonus buy games, Megaways, jackpots, table games, instant wins and live dealer games, then it is Playfina Casino. With over 10,000 games from 82 top providers, it's hard not to have a great time here. You can play bangers from Betsoft, BGaming, Big Time Gaming, Push Gaming, Nolimit City, Yggdrasil Gaming, NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. The only thing you won't find here are in-house games, but you'll enjoy their selection of instant-win games. The live casino section is no less impressive, with titles like Sweet Bonanza Candyland, Lightning Roulette and Infinite Blackjack. ⭐ Top 3 highest RTP slots at Playfina 4 Here are three of the best slots to play at Playfina. There's the classic Blood Suckers game by NetEnt (98% RTP), while Jokerizer slot by Yggdrasil (98% RTP) offers a traditional game layout and a max win of up to 6,000x. One of the newest slots is Sugar Rush 1000 by Pragmatic Play (97.5% RTP) with a max win of up to 25,000x and plenty of special features. Slot name Blood Suckers Jokerizer Sugar Rush 1000 RTP 98% 98% (Jokerizer Mode) 97.5% Software provider NetEnt Yggdrasil Pragmatic Play Theme Vampires, Gothic Carnival, Fruits Candyland Reels 5x3 5x3 7x7 Paylines 25 fixed 10 fixed Cluster pays Volatility Low High High Year released 2009 2016 2024 🏦 Payment methods available at Playfina Playfina online casino provides many payment options for Irish players. You can use cards, e-wallets, bank transfers and even cryptocurrencies. The minimum deposit and withdrawal limits for most methods is €20. There are no additional fees. Deposits are instant, but the time for withdrawals varies depending on the payment method. As a player at Playfina Ireland, you'll be able to withdraw €2,000/day, €5,000/week and €20,000/month. Let's take a closer look at all the available payment methods at Playfina, including the processing time of withdrawals. Note that all withdrawals go through a pending period of up to 24 hours. Payment method Min. deposit Min. withdrawal Processing time Visa €20 €20 1-5 days MasterCard €20 €20 1-5 days Maestro €20 €20 1-5 days Skrill €20 €20 0-24 hours Neteller €20 €20 0-24 hours Paysafecard €20 €20 0-24 hours(to MyPaysafecard account) MiFinity €20 €20 0-24 hours Payz €20 €20 0-24 hours MuchBetter €20 €20 0-24 hours eZeeWallet €20 €20 0-24 hours Rapid Transfer €20 €20 1-2 days AstroPay Card €20 €20 0-24 hours CashtoCode €20 - 0-24 hours Neosurf €20 €20 0-24 hours (to MyNeosurf account) ⚠️ Responsible gambling & tools at Playfina We couldn't write a Playfina casino review without covering responsible gambling. It's as important as any other feature of this casino, as it confirms Playfina cares about its players and keeps pace with the latest regulations in the industry. Even though you won't find GAMSTOP or other similar programs at Playfina, it offers a variety of responsible gambling tools, including: Deposit, wager and loss limits Time session limit Self-exclusion tool Time-out option We wouldn't mind a few more tools like reality checks, self-assessment tests and links to responsible gambling resources, but it's still better than what is offered at many other casinos. ☎️ Playfina customer support info Playfina's customer support is top-notch. You can contact them through many channels for relatively fast answers. Here are the options: Live chat, which is accessible from the menu bar, is even available for unregistered players. Email support for when you're not in a rush or have a more specific question. Dedicated FAQ section for quick answers to common questions. The customer support at Playfina is available 24/7. We even test-drove their live chat. First, you're greeted by a bot, then you're redirected to a human agent. The support agents are responsive, friendly and eager to help. 🔒 Security, license, reputation and trustworthiness Playfina is fully regulated and holds a Curaçao licence. It clearly displays all its licensing info in the website's footer, which is another green flag. In addition, Playfina uses SSL encryption measures to keep your personal data safe. What we didn't see on their website was any proof of testing for game fairness. 👉 How to sign up at Playfina Ireland 4 One of the benefits of playing at Playfina is its simple and fast sign-up process. A few clicks, and you're in. The only condition is that you need to be 18 years or older. Let's take it step-by-step: Find the Sign Up button in the top right corner. Create a new account by providing your email and password for your casino account. Select your country and currency. Enter a bonus code if you have one. Tick all the right boxes and hit 'Create Account'. Expert's verdict about Playfina Playfina seems to have covered all their bases. First off, it stands out with an extensive game library, one of the biggest selections of bonuses in Ireland, a multilevel VIP system and numerous payment methods. However, a few improvements could be made with more responsible gambling tools, game testing certification, exclusive games and cashback offers for regular players. Playfina is fully optimised for mobile devices and even has a dedicated mobile app. Overall, Playfina is a solid choice for Irish players who are after a diverse but reliable online casino experience. 👇 FAQ about Playfina Casino We've covered everything you should know about Playfina. All that's left are a few more questions that players usually ask, and our Playfina casino review is complete. 1. Is Playfina casino IE legit? Yes, Playfina holds a licence from the Curaçao Gaming Authority , which is one of the most well-known authorities in the industry. Plus, it has earned several iGaming awards and certificates of trust since its launch. 2. How long do Playfina casino withdrawals take? All withdrawals go through a pending state of up to 24 hours . Then, it depends on the chosen payment option, with up to 24 hours for e-wallets, 3-10 days for bank transfers and 1-5 days for card payments. 3. How many games does Playfina have? Playfina boasts a collection of over 10,000 game titles from leading providers. 4. Does Playfina pay real money? Yes , if you play with real money, you'll be able to cash out real-money winnings , but you can also try their games in demo mode for free. 5. What is the highest-paying casino game at Playfina? Slots like Blood Suckers, Jokerizer and Sugar Rush 1000 have some of the highest return rates. 🔎 More casino reviews About the author James Anderson James Anderson is a Betting & Gaming Writer at The Sun. He is an expert in sports betting and online casinos, and joined the company in November 2020 to work closely with leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to curate content in all areas of sports betting. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter and Head of Live Blogs/Events at the Daily Express and Daily Star, covering football, cricket, snooker, F1 and horse racing. Responsible gambling A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry, or depressed Problem gambling – Gamble Aware – Help with gambling addiction If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there. Extern Problem Gambling is the leading provider of information, treatment, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Ireland. Most read in Betting
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
European shares finish volatile week on high
European shares rose for a second straight week, buoyed by robust US employment figures and diminishing concerns over trade friction that had previously rattled investor confidence. The week has been a volatile one for global markets as investors grappled with ever-changing global trade dynamics. US president Donald Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, though the UK received an exemption. But markets are also monitoring whether the public spat between Mr Trump and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk could spill over into broader markets. Dublin READ MORE The Irish Overall Index of shares ended the week slightly higher, adding 0.14 per cent to finish at 11,622. That followed a fresh all-time high reached on Thursday, following the news that the European Central Bank was 'getting to the end' of a rates cycle which has seen eight consecutive cuts. But shares were mixed across the board. While AIB gained over its opening price on Friday, adding 0.2 per cent, Bank of Ireland gave up some of its gains, falling half a per cent. Insurer FBD was flat on the day. It was a similar story for insulation specialist Kingspan, which shed 1 per cent, closing the week at €75.55. The company's shares gave up some of the gains made on Thursday after it announced it would increase its planned investment in the US roofing business to $1 billion over the next five years. Food group Glanbia was 1.1 per cent higher at the close of the session, finishing at €12.64, while Kerry Group was almost 1 per cent lower. In leisure and travel stocks, hotel group Dalata was 1 per cent lower, while Ryanair added 1.76 per cent to end the week at €24.28. London The blue-chip FTSE 100 gained 0.3 per cent, while the more domestically-oriented FTSE 250 ended 0.4 per cent higher. Both indexes clocked firm weekly gains. On the day, heavyweight banks were among the top gainers, with Standard Chartered up 2.9 per cent, HSBC up 1 per cent and Barclays climbing 1.9 per cent. Precious metal miners, the best performing FTSE 350 sector this week, lagged on Friday, clocking a 1.8 per cent decline. Aerospace and defence shares – which jumped earlier this week after Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged the largest sustained increase in British defence spending since the end of the Cold War – gave some of those gains back, to fall 0.8 per cent. Europe The pan-European Stoxx 600 rose 0.3 per cent on Friday, and logged a 0.6 per cent gain for the week. Market sentiment drew support from the United States' better-than-expected jobs report and signs of easing in the US-China trade relationship. Still, the market was also reminded this week of protectionist fervour. The automotive sector, particularly exposed to tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, bore the brunt, shedding 1.8 per cent over the week. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated he would pursue a deal for duty-free US car imports into Europe in exchange for equivalent tariff waivers on European exports to the United States. Other bourses such as Germany's DAX and France's also recorded a second straight week of gains, while and Spain's IBEX logged its eight consecutive week of advances – its longest in nearly four months. On Friday, the financial sector emerged as the standout performer, propelled by UBS, which rose 3.8 per cent after Swiss authorities proposed more stringent rules that could require an additional $26 billion in core capital reserves for the banking giant. New York Wall Street rebounded on Friday and US Treasury yields jumped as a generally upbeat employment report and a bounce-back in Tesla shares helped put the indexes on track for weekly advances. All three major US stock indexes surged from the starting gate with robust gains, while bitcoin jumped and crude prices touched their highest level since late April. Tesla stock was last up 5.9 per cent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 485.78 points, or 1.15 per cent, to 42,805.52, the S&P 500 rose 66.69 points, or 1.12 per cent, to 6,005.88 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 252.22 points, or 1.31 per cent, to 19,550.67. – Additional reporting: Reuters
Agriland
3 hours ago
- Agriland
ICMSA: 50c/L base price ‘fully justified' for May milk
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has said that a base price of 50c/L is 'fully justified' for May milk supplies. The chair of the association's dairy committee, Noel Murphy, made the comments ahead of milk price announcements for last month from co-ops. He said that co-op boards 'should resist any attempt for milk price reductions for May given the current conditions in the marketplace'. Noel Murphy, ICMSA Dairy Committee chair. Image: Domnick Walsh Eye Focus Murphy said that 'milk supplies globally and in particular in the EU remain constrained'. 'There is no evidence to suggest that milk supplies will increase to any great extent in the foreseeable future while demand for dairy products is strengthening in advance of the holiday period and dairy demand is looking strong in the medium term. 'The Global Dairy Trade (GDT) is higher today than it was at the start of 2025, the average milk price across the EU is at 53c/kg while the Dutch quotations have shown improvements in the order of 2c/L over the course of May,' he said. 'It would be simply unacceptable for milk processors, some of whom are conditioning farmers for a reduction, to cut milk prices to boost their own profits for 2025. 'The reality is that no one else in the milk processor supply chain will be taking or expected to take a cut,' he added. 'Co-op boards are fully justified in insisting that milk price is set at least at 50c/L for May milk and provide dairy farmers with the confidence to invest in their business and for the next generation to reconsider dairying as an attractive option for their future career. 'It is clear at this stage that dairy markets are relatively stable and dairy farmers expect at a minimum that their milk will remain stable or else move up to 50c/L if currently below that level,' Murphy said.
