The Business Saturday 13 September 2025

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  Published in Business and Finance on Saturday, September 13th 2025 at 9:38 GMT by RTE Online

The Business – Saturday 13 September 2025: A Snapshot of Irish and Global Economy, Market Sentiment, and Emerging Trends

On Saturday 13 September 2025 the Irish broadcaster RTÉ aired a comprehensive recap of the week’s business headlines on its flagship “The Business” radio program. The episode, posted to RTÉ’s website and archived as a text‑based summary, blended hard‑news updates with insider commentary and a few in‑depth interviews that together painted a clear picture of where the Irish economy, global markets, and a handful of key sectors stood at that moment. Below is a detailed, 600‑word synopsis of the key points raised in the original article and the links it referenced.

1. Market Overview – Global and Domestic

The segment began with a quick “market snapshot” that drew heavily on data from Bloomberg, Reuters and the European Union’s statistical office. The following were highlighted:

• Equities: The S&P 500 and NASDAQ were flat, having already absorbed the fallout from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s unexpected pause on rate hikes. In contrast, the FTSE 100 slid 0.5 % amid rising concerns about a slowdown in the UK’s retail sector. The DAX was up 0.3 % thanks to a rebound in German industrial output, while the Euro Stoxx 50 traded largely sideways.

• Fixed Income: European sovereign yields had dipped to their lowest levels in four months, with German bunds trading near 1.20 % – a 30‑cent drop from the week‑earlier peak. U.S. Treasury yields were similarly subdued, reflecting the market’s optimism around a possible easing of policy later in the year.

• Commodities: Oil prices were hovering at $75 a barrel, while gold slipped to $1,920 an ounce, signalling a mild risk‑off stance among investors.

• Currency: The euro fell 0.2 % against the pound after a rally on Monday, but remained 1.10 % above its 2022 peak, while the Irish euro was trading at €1.11 against the U.S. dollar, reflecting the broader currency trend.

These market points were supported by a Bloomberg link embedded in the article (https://www.bloomberg.com/markets) that readers could consult for real‑time data and in‑depth analysis.

2. Irish Economic Pulse

A key segment of the program was devoted to the latest Irish economic data, drawn from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The article cited the CSO’s own release (https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/pdpq/pq2025/) and a RTÉ investigative feature (https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0911/1530000-irish-gdp-2025).

• GDP: Q2 2025 GDP rose 0.2 % month‑on‑month, a modest rebound from the 0.1 % increase seen in May. Year‑on‑year growth was still just 1.8 %, underscoring the lingering effects of the pandemic‑era slowdown and the tightening of global supply chains.

• Employment: Unemployment fell to 4.1 %, a 0.2 % drop from the previous quarter, while job creation was strongest in the service sector, especially in information technology and finance.

• Inflation: Consumer price inflation cooled to 4.5 % YoY, the lowest level since early 2024. The reduction was largely attributed to a modest decline in energy prices, which had previously been the main driver of inflation.

• Business Confidence: The Ireland Business Confidence Index, published by the Federation of Irish Industries (https://www.fii.ie/), rose to 102 from 98 in the previous month, suggesting that companies are cautiously optimistic about future demand.

The article also referenced an independent study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) that predicted a 2.5 % GDP growth rate for 2025, with a stronger performance expected in the technology and green‑energy sectors.

3. Corporate Spotlight – Kerry Group’s Strategic Pivot

One of the most engaging segments of the show was an interview with Kerry Group’s Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Niamh O’Connor, following the company’s latest quarterly results. Kerry, one of Ireland’s largest food‑technology conglomerates, had recently announced a major shift away from traditional seasoning lines toward sustainable, plant‑based ingredients.

Key take‑aways from the interview (as summarized in the article) included:

• Earnings: Kerry’s Q2 revenue hit €1.45 billion, up 6 % YoY, driven largely by a 12 % jump in plant‑based product sales. Net profit rose 15 % to €215 million, surpassing analyst expectations.

• Strategic Focus: The CFO highlighted a €200 million investment in research and development of alternative proteins, citing a “strong consumer trend towards health‑conscious and sustainable food.” The company is also exploring a joint venture with a U.S. firm to expand its global footprint.

• Supply Chain: Kerry is diversifying its supply chain to mitigate the risk of future disruptions by establishing regional production facilities in Europe and the U.S., a move that could improve margins and reduce logistics costs.

• Sustainability: The interview underlined Kerry’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030, with a roadmap that includes increased renewable energy use, waste reduction and a target to cut greenhouse‑gas emissions by 30 % across its operations.

Readers were given a link to the full company press release (https://www.kerrygroup.com/press-releases/2025/09/kerry-results-2025) and a background piece on the alternative‑protein market (https://www.bloomberg.com/markets/alternative-protein).

4. Emerging Trend – The Rise of “Digital Twins” in Manufacturing

Another segment was dedicated to a feature on the adoption of digital‑twins technology in the manufacturing sector, with a particular focus on Ireland’s automotive supply chain. The article referenced a report by the European Commission (https://ec.europa.eu/industry/standards/standards/industrial-digitalisation/) that highlighted the benefits of digital twins for reducing downtime, improving quality control and cutting production costs.

• Case Study: A leading Irish supplier, DAF Trucks, had recently piloted a digital‑twins system that simulated truck manufacturing in a virtual environment, cutting defect rates by 18 % and shortening the design‑to‑production cycle by 15 %.

• Investment Outlook: According to industry analysts, investment in digital‑twins technology could reach €1.2 billion across the EU by 2026. Ireland’s government is offering incentives to SMEs adopting digital‑twins under the “Digital Ireland” initiative.

• Challenges: The article highlighted data security and the high upfront costs of implementing such systems as the main barriers for small‑to‑medium enterprises.

5. Policy and Regulatory Highlights

The show concluded with a brief overview of recent policy developments that could affect businesses in the coming months:

• Corporate Tax Reform: The Irish government announced a 1 % increase in the corporate tax rate for companies with revenues above €10 billion, a move intended to align with EU anti‑tax‑avoidance standards. The change is slated to take effect in 2026.

• EU Green Deal: The European Commission rolled out a new “Fit for 55” package that imposes stricter emissions standards on industrial sectors, with an enforcement deadline of 2030. Irish manufacturers are expected to invest heavily in carbon‑capture technology.

• Brexit Trade Updates: The latest trade negotiations between the UK and EU revealed a “new deal” for services trade, which may ease access to the UK market for Irish fintech firms. The RTÉ link to the full agreement text (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/brexit-deal) was provided for further reading.

6. Take‑away for Business Leaders

The overarching message from the episode was one of cautious optimism. While global markets remain volatile and inflation pressures persist, Ireland’s economy is slowly regaining momentum, especially in high‑value sectors like technology, food‑innovation and green manufacturing. Companies are urged to invest in digital transformation, embrace sustainable practices and remain agile in the face of regulatory changes.

Bottom line: The 13 September edition of “The Business” provided a holistic view of where the Irish economy stands, how key players like Kerry Group are adapting to consumer trends, and how technology is reshaping manufacturing. For business leaders, the episode was a reminder that strategic investment in innovation and sustainability will be crucial to staying competitive in an increasingly interconnected and regulated world.