Economics

Inflation figures for January show that for the fourth month running inflation has increased on both sides of the Atlantic, including Ireland. In Ireland the rate in January was 1.9% having been half that in October. However, the flash estimate for February shows a drop from 1.7% in January to 1.3%. In the US the January rate is 3.0% but in the EU, it has dropped from 2.5% to 2.4%, both figures outside the monetary targets. The ECB cut rates in March, and cuts may take place due to the weak Euro economy, inflation notwithstanding. In the US growth is strong and in January the Fed held its main rate at 4.5%. and further cuts are off the table for the time being - though there is some concern about the impact of the administration's tariff policy.