Consumer confidence rose modestly during the month of June reflecting greater optimism about the outlook for employment.
According to an IIB/ESRI consumer sentiment survey the monthly index rose from 97.4 in May to 99.6 in June.
The Chief economist at IIB bank, Austin Hughes, said: "the underlying trend in Irish consumer sentiment remains positive but the pace of the gain has been very limited of late. Indeed, in spite of the slight improvement in consumer sentiment in June the IIB/ESRI index is still below the level seen at the end of 2004."
"The trend in the sentiment data suggests the possibility that Irish economic growth in 2005 may not be quite as strong as has generally been expected," he concluded.
