FX.co ★ 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 March, its lowest reading since December 2022 and the second consecutive monthly decline. However, the 3.4-point drop was notably smaller than March’s sharp 8.5-point fall, suggesting the pace of weakening is moderating. The two-month slide also remains less pronounced than the downturn seen a year earlier, when concerns over U.S. tariffs weighed heavily on confidence. According to the survey’s authors, Irish consumers are preparing for more challenging economic conditions but are not yet experiencing acute strain in their current financial situation. The government in Dublin recently revised its 2026 growth forecast down to 1.5–2.1%, with the outlook heavily dependent on how inflation evolves amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.