01/04/2025: Avant Money has transitioned into a fully licensed Irish bank, and is operating as a branch of Bankinter Group, Spain’s fifth-largest bank.

The bank is now set to deliver a wider range of financial products to include current accounts alongside its existing mortgage, loans, and credit card services.

This expansion will strengthen Avant Money’s position in the Irish personal finance space, where it currently holds a 7% share of the mortgage market.

07/03/2025: New health insurance player Level Health is the latest company to announce a price rise for its customers.

From April, all plans will increase by an average of 6%.

Level Health, which launched in the Irish market last November, is back by insurance giant Aviva and offers four plans simply named A, B, C and D.

All plans come with Aviva perks, free travel insurance and instant medical advice.

07/03/2025: The European Central Bank have cut interests rates by 0.25%, for the sixth time since last June.

The average rate is now down to 2.5% from a record high of 4% in 2023, as the ECB attempted to tackle spiralling inflation.

But in a sign of continuing price pressures, the ECB raised its inflation forecast for this year to 2.3% from a previous prediction of 2.1%.

28/02/2025: SSE Airtricity will increase electricity prices by 10.5% and gas prices by 8.4% from April 2nd.

The price hike will affect those on variable rate plans, with the average electricity household forking out an extra €171.22 per year, and the average gas customer paying an additional €113.91.

Households with dual fuel plans will pay an extra 9.5% in bills, or around €285, on average, per year.

The supplier has reduced its prices three times since 2023, but said the latest price increases are due to network charges and a rise in wholesale energy costs.

28/02/2025: Laya Healthcare are bumping up premiums by an average of 6.6% from April 1st.

The announcement comes after two price hikes by the insurer in recent months, in October 2024 and January 2025.

The rise will not affect up to 30 of Laya’s 120 plans, but could add between €80 and €240 to the annual cost of cover across the bulk of other plans.

Rising health insurance costs are due to the increase to the government levy on health plans, increase in the cost of hospital care and a sharp rise in the number of claims.

26/02/2025: Apple have launched the lowest-cost new iPhone, the 16e.

The device replaces the iPhone SE, Apple’s last product with the touch ID button.

The iPhone 16e has a starting price of €709 - over €150 more expensive than the entry price of the iPhone SE - marking a considerable price increase for the cheapest new iPhone when it ships on 28 February.

It offers a modern iPhone experience similar to the latest iPhone 16 but with a few bells and whistles removed to reach a slightly lower price.