Ireland’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 53.3 in April 2026 from 56.7 in the previous month, marking its lowest level since December 2022 and extending the decline for a second straight month. Still, the 3.4-point drop was far milder than March’s sharp 8.5-point fall, hinting the pace of deterioration is easing. The two-month slide also remains less severe than a year earlier, when U.S. tariff concerns hit sentiment. Survey authors noted Irish consumers are bracing for tougher conditions, but not in outright distress over current finances. Dublin recently trimmed its 2026 growth forecast to 1.5–2.1%, with the outlook hinging on how inflation responds to ongoing Middle East tensions. source: Irish League of Credit Unions

Consumer Confidence in Ireland decreased to 56.70 points in March from 65.20 points in February of 2026. Consumer Confidence in Ireland averaged 83.33 points from 1996 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 130.90 points in January of 2000 and a record low of 39.60 points in July of 2008. This page provides the latest reported value for - Ireland Consumer Confidence - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Ireland Consumer Confidence - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Consumer Confidence in Ireland decreased to 56.70 points in March from 65.20 points in February of 2026. Consumer Confidence in Ireland is expected to be 64.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Ireland Consumer Confidence is projected to trend around 69.00 points in 2027 and 75.00 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-27 12:01 AM
Consumer Confidence
Mar 56.7 65.2 64
2026-04-28 12:00 AM
Consumer Confidence
Apr 53.3 56.7 55
2026-05-25 11:01 PM
Consumer Confidence
May 53.3


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Confidence 53.30 56.70 points Apr 2026
Consumer Credit 14340.00 14262.00 EUR Million Mar 2026
Consumer Spending 37778.00 37444.00 EUR Million Dec 2025
Disposable Personal Income 405066.00 386370.00 EUR Million Dec 2024
Gasoline Prices 2.24 2.08 USD/Liter Apr 2026
Households Debt to GDP 23.90 24.40 percent of GDP Sep 2025
Households Debt to Income 75.10 82.33 percent Dec 2024
Household Saving Ratio 10.90 14.70 percent Dec 2025
Private Sector Credit 176514.00 175841.00 EUR Million Mar 2026
Retail Sales MoM 0.20 -0.60 percent Mar 2026
Retail Sales YoY 1.60 1.30 percent Mar 2026


Ireland Consumer Confidence
In Ireland, the Consumer Sentiment Index survey covers a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults. The questionnaire assesses respondents’ perceptions on the general economy in the previous 12 months as well as expectations for next 12 months; perceptions of recent trends in unemployment and inflation; recent trends and likely future evolution in the household’s financial situation as well as savings and major purchases intentions. The Consumer Sentiment Index is calculated as the percentage of favourable replies minus the percentage of unfavourable replies, plus 100. The indicator varies on a scale of 0 to 200; a value of 0 indicates extreme lack of confidence, 100 neutrality and 200 extreme confidence.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
53.30 56.70 130.90 39.60 1996 - 2026 points Monthly

News Stream
Irish Consumer Sentiment Slips to Over 3-Year Low
Ireland’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 53.3 in April 2026 from 56.7 in the previous month, marking its lowest level since December 2022 and extending the decline for a second straight month. Still, the 3.4-point drop was far milder than March’s sharp 8.5-point fall, hinting the pace of deterioration is easing. The two-month slide also remains less severe than a year earlier, when U.S. tariff concerns hit sentiment. Survey authors noted Irish consumers are bracing for tougher conditions, but not in outright distress over current finances. Dublin recently trimmed its 2026 growth forecast to 1.5–2.1%, with the outlook hinging on how inflation responds to ongoing Middle East tensions.
2026-04-28
Irish Consumer Sentiment Hits 3-Year Low
Ireland’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index dropped to 56.7 in March 2026 from 65.2 in February, marking its lowest level in three years as escalating Middle East tensions weighed on economic confidence. The decline was also the biggest monthly drop since April 2025, when US tariff concerns rattled sentiment. “The fall reflects a marked decline in consumer confidence rather than a complete collapse, given the scale of the drop is broadly similar to that seen almost a year ago”, the survey's authors said. Households are becoming more cautious, particularly in spending plans, as concerns over economic fallout and rising energy costs intensify. The reading aligns with broader euro area trends, where consumer confidence fell to its lowest since late 2023. Still, the central bank raised inflation forecasts to 2.9% for 2026 and 2.6% for 2027 due to energy pressures, while expecting only a modest slowdown in growth. The economy expanded by 4.9% in 2025, even as sentiment stayed subdued.
2026-03-27
Irish Consumer Sentiment Hits 11-Month High
Ireland’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 65.2 in February 2026 from 64.7 in January, extending gains for a fourth consecutive month and reaching its highest level since March 2025. Consumers’ assessment of current economic conditions edged higher, and expectations regarding unemployment also improved modestly. However, respondents turned more downbeat about their own household finances. Looking ahead, sentiment toward the year-ahead outlook was less pessimistic than in previous months. Economist Austin Hughes pointed to supportive GDP data at the end of 2025, firmer exchequer returns, and confirmation that Novo Nordisk will manufacture its weight-loss pill in Ireland for markets outside the US as positive developments. Still, Hughes cautioned that “the change was marginal and the balance of consumer thinking on the Irish economy remains strongly of the view that the Irish economy will weaken rather than strengthen in the year ahead."
2026-02-25