US companies operating in Ireland face significant challenges due to rising property prices, with 98% of surveyed firms finding it difficult to secure housing for staff. The national Residential Property Price Index rose by 5.4% in the year leading up to January 2024, with Dublin experiencing a 4.5% increase and areas outside Dublin seeing a 6.1% rise. Despite these challenges, the relationship between the US and Ireland remains strong, contributing €41 billion annually to Ireland's economy. Ireland is also a significant contributor to Foreign Direct Investment in the US. Simon Coveney, Ireland's Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, emphasizes Ireland's stable political and business environment as a key advantage.

UK inflation has decreased to 3.4% in February, the lowest in two and a half years, prompting Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to hint at possible tax cuts. The Office for National Statistics reported the decline, which was driven by lower food prices and costs in restaurants and cafes. Despite the positive trend, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves criticized the high tax burden and economic uncertainty under the Conservatives. Experts like Suren Thiru and Boudewijn Driedonks from McKinsey & Company advise caution, noting the challenges for businesses in maintaining stable margins. The Bank of England's survey shows public expectations of inflation decreasing to 3% over the next year.

Unilever, headquartered in London, plans to divest its ice cream unit, which includes brands like Wall's, Magnum, and Ben & Jerry's, to benefit from a different ownership structure. The company aims to save around €800 million by 2027 through a productivity program involving technology investment. CEO Hein Schumacher, who took over last summer, is driving these changes to position Unilever for sustainable growth and profitability. The restructuring will result in approximately 7,500 job cuts, primarily from office-based positions. Despite the challenges posed by inflation, Unilever's shares rose 3.6% following the announcement.

Spotify paid out $9 billion in streaming royalties in 2023, marking the largest annual payment to the music industry by any company. The 'Loud and Clear' report revealed that 1,250 artists earned over $1 million each, with significant earnings also reported for indie artists. The report highlighted the growing diversity in the music landscape, with many successful artists coming from non-English speaking countries. Spotify announced it would stop paying for songs with fewer than 1,000 streams per year starting in 2024 and had reduced its global workforce by 17% in December 2023.

Spain's inflation rate increased to 3.4% year-on-year, contrasting with declines in other EU countries. Ireland's inflation rate fell slightly, Greece's rate dropped by 0.8% from December 2023, and Poland's annual rate decreased significantly to 3.9% in January 2024. Spain's core inflation rate decreased to 3.6%, while its EU-harmonised inflation rate rose to 3.5%. In Ireland, the CPI excluding energy and unprocessed food rose by 5.3%, with recreation and culture, and restaurants and hotels experiencing the largest increases. Greece's inflation easing was attributed to significant price drops in clothing and footwear due to winter sales.

Italy's competition watchdog fined British American Tobacco €6 million and Amazon €1 million for misleading advertising related to heated tobacco products. The ads for Glo Hyper X2 and Glo Hyper Air failed to adequately inform consumers about nicotine content and health risks. AGCM emphasized that the ads were misleading and not properly conveyed warnings about health risks and age restrictions. Amazon, which sells these products, disagreed with the conclusions and plans to appeal.

A report from the Resolution Foundation reveals that one in three working-age adults in the UK have less than £1000 in savings, potentially affecting over 11 million people. The cost of living crisis has forced individuals with limited savings to rely on credit for daily expenses. There is a direct correlation between low savings and poor mental health, with low savings leading to anxiety and mental health issues potentially reducing the ability to save. Additionally, 39% of individuals aged 22 to the State Pension age are under-saving for retirement. In contrast, EU households saved an average of 12.7% of their disposable income in 2022, with Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg having the highest savings rates, while Poland and Greece reported negative savings rates.

Switzerland's annual inflation rate fell to 1.3% in January, the lowest since October 2021, prompting analysts to predict a potential interest rate cut by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) in March. Despite the unexpected price drops, domestic product prices increased, and the core inflation rate moderated to 1.2%. The Swiss franc weakened by 0.4% against the euro following the inflation data release.

New York City hosts the Fall-Winter 2024 New York Fashion Week, featuring over 70 designers and numerous celebrities. Prominent designers like Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, and Tommy Hilfiger showcase their latest collections, with Hilfiger emphasizing affordable luxury. Emerging designers such as Bishme Cromartie also make a mark. The event includes social commentary, with models like Maddie Moon promoting inclusivity. Marc Jacobs' 40th-anniversary collection stands out for its unique staging. The fashion month continues with upcoming shows in London, Milan, and Paris.

Vodafone has entered a 10-year partnership with Microsoft to provide AI, digital, enterprise, and cloud services to over 300 million businesses and consumers in Europe and Africa. Vodafone will invest €1.4 billion in AI technologies using Microsoft's Azure OpenAI and Copilot. Microsoft will also become an equity investor in Vodafone's IoT platform and assist in expanding its mobile financial platform in Africa. The partnership aims to accelerate digital transformation and improve customer experience. Vodafone's shares have fallen due to poor performance in Germany, and the company plans to cut 11,000 jobs to restore competitiveness.