The latest edition of the Nielsen Consumer Confidence Report has revealed that Ireland's score rose by five points last year, to stand at an index of 95 in the first quarter of 2016.
This score is the second highest recorded since the pre-recession times of 2007, with only the fourth quarter of 2015 seeing a higher index of 99.
Nielsen says that two of the three factors that make up the consumer confidence index have seen small decreases in the last quarter. The number of people rating jobs prospects as either "good" or "excellent" has fallen four percentage points to 52%, and optimism around readiness to spend has decreased to 38%, down 6 percentage points.
The research also found that just over half of Irish consumers (53%) rate their personal finances as good or excellent, flat on the fourth quarter of 2015.
Recessionary sentiment also stays flat this quarter with 55% of respondents believing that Ireland is still in recession, which is significantly lower than the European average of 68%.
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
