Ireland’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index climbed to a four-month high of 62.2 in June 2026, up from 59.4 in May, marking a second consecutive month of recovery as concerns about household finances, the broader economy, and future conditions eased. While the index has gained nine points over the past two months, it remains below February’s reading of 65.2 and well under its long-run average of 83.2. This gap underscores ongoing uncertainty, particularly around the durability of peace in the Middle East and persistently elevated retail fuel costs.
Four of the survey’s five components improved in June. However, confidence in the labour market deteriorated, reflecting anxiety over Meta’s announced job cuts and mounting fears about the impact of artificial intelligence on employment. Although declining global oil prices and continued government energy supports have tempered inflation worries, households remain generally negative about their own financial position. This suggests that, despite the recent improvement in sentiment, consumers are still behaving cautiously.
