GDP

Letters to editor

Letter: Ben Lowry did not take account of key facts in his critique of pensions

It is significant that the NI political parties are as one in a plea for 'fair funding' from London - they mean more funding, writes Esmond Birnie

Esmond Birnie: Confidence on affordability of a united Ireland is flawed

The cost of redeveloping Casement Park in west Belfast for the Euro 2028 soccer tournament could be more than £300m. Esmond Birnie looks at the benefits of Casement Park stadium

Esmond Birnie: UK government should exercise care in case of Casement Park

Lawrence O’Hara of Begbies Traynor in Northern Ireland

Rising financial distress in Northern Ireland in second quarter of 2024

Northern Ireland is leading the UK’s recovery with positive signs of growth, according to the latest PwC UK Economic Outlook. Pictured is Cat McCusker, regional market leader for PwC Northern Ireland

NI leads UK regions’ economic growth, as government inherits a strong economy

If fans stayed at home to watch the Euros on TV rather than go out, that could reduce spending and thus GDP growth, writes Esmond Birnie

Esmond Birnie: Putting impact of Euros on economy under the microscope

Headquartered in Belfast, OCO Global's report revealed the growth trends of 11 regional UK cities over the past decade and found that Belfast enjoyed the fastest growth in GDP per head (47% between 2013-2022). Pictured is Mark O’Connell, executive chairman of OCO Global

Report: UK regional city report identifies Belfast as ‘booming’

DUP Leader Gavin Robinson (centre) with the party's Westminster candidates at the launch of the DUP's manifesto at Danny Blanchflower Stadium in east Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

DUP manifesto focuses on Westminster delivery

The devolved executive at Stormont failed to operate fully for over 40% of the time since 1999. This must have had some negative impact on economic performance, writes Esmond Birnie

Esmond Birnie: Devolution at 25 – not much to celebrate economically

At the start of the year, the DUP endorsed a deal with the UK government allowing it to end a long-running boycott of Stormont. The collapse of the institutions was completely the result of the Conservative government’s actions, writes R G McDowell

Letter: Stormont boycott was a legitimate protest

Ukraine knows too well the importance of being able to protect itself when it is a target. It has been engulfed in a war with Russia since February 2022

Ruth Dudley Edwards: UK’s informal protection of the Republic no longer enough

The Bank of England in the City of London

UK economy exits recession after 0.6% growth in latest quarter

Lord Rogan.

UUP peer calls for increased UK defence spending

A new report by two Irish economists looks at the financial reality of Northern Ireland separating from the rest of the UK and becoming part of an Irish state. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Separation from UK would involve 'major costs' for NI

File photo dated 19/02/23 of the East Link toll bridge at Dublin port.

Ireland’s economy expected to grow over next two years, experts say

Dr Loretta O’Sullivan, EY Ireland chief economist

EY: NI to expand by 0.7% in 2024, but job growth expected to 'stall'

The report reveals recent political developments offers the opportunity to unlock further growth potential within the NI economy

Claire Cartmill

The Bank of England has made a new announcement on the interest rate. (Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Bank of England announces that interest rate will remain at 5.25%

Morning View

Editorial: ​Northern Ireland enjoys very generous financial support from London

The UK's economy has grown by 0.2% in August, with car manufacturing leading the economic boost over the past three months. (Credit: Getty Images)

UK economy grew by 0.2% in August as service sector provides boost

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

'Dignified silence may be better': Ian Paisley hits back at Leo Varadkar

The primary reason most of Ireland effectively voted to leave the union with GB in the 1918 general election was that the union wasn’t working for most of the people of the island, writes Gearoid O'Morain

Letter: Ludicrous that Ireland would want to return to British rule

Some claim the protocol has helped Northern Ireland’s economy but over the more recent two+ years, those coinciding with NI’s unique post-Brexit trading arrangements (January 2021+), NI growth has lagged the UK average, writes Dr Esmond Birnie

Esmond Birnie: It's wrong to say NI economy is outgrowing the UK average

Windsor Framework & Duty Free: Northern Ireland's airports unite to call on UK and EU Governments to return duty free shopping. Pictured are the retailing facilities at Belfast International

Northern Ireland’s airports call for return of duty free for flights to the EU

Edwin Poots

'Whether economy or moral issues this Conservative government is bankrupt'

US special envoy to Northern Ireland for economic affairs Joe Kennedy III speaks to the media at Parliament Buildings at Stormont, Belfast. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

US special envoy Joe Kennedy pledges ‘to help focus on people'

Of the fathers surveyed by a recent YouGov poll, 62% said they would take more leave if the rate of statutory paternity pay (SPP) increased

Third of UK fathers take no time off due to 'woeful' paternity leave rights

In February, when the last report was produced, the Bank said it expects interest rates to fall sharply over the rest of the year

Interest rate rise expected as inflation still high

Experts and the financial markets widely expect the base rate to rise from 4.25% to 4.5% today.

By Anna Wise, PA Business Reporter

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at Queen’s yesterday repeated inaccurate statements about Northern Ireland’s GDP doubling during 1998-2023. The Windsor Framework actually reduces Stormont’s ability to adopt appropriate economic development policies. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Belfast Agreement @25: NI hasn't realised devolution's potential - Esmond Birnie

UK economy records zero growth in February - ONS

A promotional graphic for Lowden Guitars, based in Saintfield

Ulster guitar firm which make named by government in global trade deal PR

Letters to editor

Letter: In the Alliance Party, our glass is half full about the future

UK interest rates since 2007 as set by the Bank of England.

NI economist backs Bank of England interest rate hike

Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England.

Bank of England governor's plea on prices as he warns of inflation danger

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivering his Budget to the House of Commons in London

Budget: UK economy is 'on right track' and will not enter technical recession

A report claims that the size of NI's GDP has more than doubled since the 1998 Belfast Agreement but this far exaggerates the scale of improvement. Indicators such as population growth or employment or tourist numbers show that the turning points in performance came before 1998. Photo: John GilesPA Wire

Economist: It far exaggerates things to say that 1998 deal doubled NI economy

Belfast firm, OCO Global was set up shortly after the Good Friday Agreement was signed by Mark O’Connell who argues that its time to “double down” on the transformative effect which the deal has had in Northern Ireland

25 years on...Belfast firm doubles down on the Good Friday Agreement

Uncertainty over trading arrangements has been caused by the NI Protocol

Northern Ireland economy 'transformed' in 25 years since Good Friday Agreement

Dismal weather heralds the arrival of the UK Chancellor’s Autumn Statement as people shop in the centre of Bolton.

UK economy will be the only one to shrink in 2023, warns IMF

PABest Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street, London, for the House of Commons to deliver his autumn statement. Picture date: Thursday November 17, 2022.

Hunt blames ‘recession made in Russia’ as he increases taxes and cuts spending

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivering his autumn statement to MPs in the House of Commons, London

UK economy in recession says OBR as growth forecast for next year slashed

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 30th November 2020 Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye General views Belfast city centre.

NI 'already in recession', economist warns ahead of autumn budget statement

The Bank of England has announced an interest rate rise

Cost of Living: Bank of England hikes interest rates to highest for 14 years

(L-R) Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy, Ben Broadbent, Executive Director for Communications, James Bell, Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, and Deputy Governor for Markets and Banking, Dave Ramsden, during the Bank of England's financial stability report press conference.

Largest interest rate hike in decades a ‘cruel necessity’

Letter to the editor

Ireland would suffer in trade war so should implore EU not to be stupid

Belfast shoppers

‘Significant risk’ of UK heading into recession

Cost of living

Slowdown rules out large interest hike: Analysts

When Stormont was shut for three years from 2017 and Northern Ireland was manged by senior civil servants, far from its economy declining there was a slight improvement

Esmond Birnie: There’s no evidence that Stormont brings an economic dividend

Letter to the editor

Law to overhaul protocol has better chance of passing if it protects EU market

Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey leaving the Bank of England Monetary Policy Report Press Conference at the Bank of England, London, following the decision on interest rates

Warnings on economy and inflation as interest rates up

Letter to the editor

Import of cheap foreign labour helped fuel Brexit – P&O cannot get away with it

If half the NI grocery market shifts from UK supply chains to higher price Republic/EU ones, the extra annual spending required could be £200m

Economist: How the NI Protocol could raise the cost of your shopping basket

Ukrainian servicemen sit atop armored personnel carriers driving on a road in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in the country (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Economist: Economic impact of invasion of Ukraine on NI is unavoidable

Esmond Birnie Chief Economist PricewaterhouseCooper. Picture by Brian Little

Economist whose says Protocol costs £900m a year defends his figures

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful CEO Dr Ian Humphreys with litter-loathing puppet Al

New appeal over rural road litter

The data does not support Leo Varadkar’s conclusion about the benefits from the NI Protocol. However, he was right about the dramatic increase in trade across the Irish land border, but apparently without realising that the UK regards this as justification for invoking article 16

Economist: Varadkar is wrong to say NI has benefited from the protocol