Rents rise 5.6%, Jysk plans new Irish stores, and rise of ‘buy now, pay later’

Business Today: the best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk

A chronic undersupply of rental accommodation is placing further upward pressure on rents, according to property website Daft.ie, which reports that prices nationally rose at an annual rate of 5.6 per cent in the second quarter. Eoin Burke-Kennedy reports.

In a related piece, Cantillon notes how it is now cheaper to service a mortgage than to rent in most parts of the country.

Danish homewares retailer Jysk will open six new Irish stores before the end of the year, with up to a further 10 planned for 2022. Mark Paul spoke to its country manager about its expansion plans and trading in the pandemic.

Diligent, a US company that announced 200 new jobs for Galway late last year, has acquired Limerick-based Accuvio for an undisclosed sum.

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Dublin-headquartered Valeo Foods, which is in the process of being sold to US investors for €1.7 billion, has agreed a deal to buy a UK supplier of dried meat-based snacks such as beef jerky.

In our personal finance feature, Fiona Reddan looks at the growing popularity of the "buy now, pay later"market. How does it work and is it good for consumers?

In Q&A, a couple who have a deposit saved for a house and only require a relatively small mortgage wonder if banks will consider them for a loan even though one of their employers is still on the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme. Dominic Coyle offers some guidance.

The Tokyo Olympics are over but the annoying trend of geoblocking of sports rights looks like it's here to stay, writes Laura Slattery in her weekly column.

Irish companies are laggards in taking measures to tackle climate change, according to a report from the European Investment Bank. They need to up their game, writes Cantillon.

In Me & My Money, Fergus Murphy, general manager of the Dublin Liberties Distillery, reveals how he splashed out on a home gym to stay healthy.

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Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock is Business Editor of The Irish Times