Ireland’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 63.2 in August 2026 from 61.6 in July, reaching its highest level since February. The latest reading was also close to the level recorded before the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East: the index stood at 65.2 in February before dropping to a 40‑month low of 53.3 in April, following a sharp increase in fuel prices linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Despite the recent improvement, the index remains well below both its long‑term survey average of 83.1 and its five‑year average of 64.1, even as the broader economy has continued to grow strongly. The increase in August came in spite of persistent cost‑of‑living pressures and a still‑uncertain economic outlook. “This suggests this pressure is sustained as well as substantial,” the survey’s authors noted.
