Tag Archives: Central Statistics Office

Trends: CSO Releases Census Age Profile For Ireland

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The Central Statistics Office today released the latest publication in its series of Census 2011 results, showing that the population of pre-school children aged 0-4 increased by 17.9 per cent in the past five years taking it to 356,329 in April 2011, while the number of young adults aged 19-24 has decreased by 12 per cent, the only age group to show a fall in numbers.

The average age of the population of the state as a whole increased by half a year to 36.1 years since 2006. In 2011 the population of almost all counties showed an increase, topped by Limerick city where the average age increased by 1.5 years. However a few counties had a younger population than in 2006 with the average age in Laois falling by half a year, and Cavan and Longford both showing slight decreases.

 Pre-school children

The number of pre-school children (aged 0-4) in the State increased by 17.9 per cent compared to overall population growth of 8.2 per cent. In County Laois this age group increased by 37.1 per cent, the largest increase for any county, followed by Cavan with an increase of 30.2 per cent.

The number of pre-school children living in flats and apartments stood at 25,317 an increase of 50.3 per cent since 2006, while the number living in rented properties has also increased significantly from 77,909 in 2006 to 122,782 in 2011, accounting for 34.7 per cent of all pre-school children in 2011.

Primary School Children

There were just over half a million children in the 5-12 year age group, an increase of 12 per cent since 2006. County Laois experienced the highest growth in this age group with an increase of 28.9 per cent followed by Fingal (28.3%). There was a decrease in this age group in Limerick city of 9.4 per cent and in Cork city (7.9%).

Secondary School Children

The population of secondary school children (aged 13-18) remained almost static over the past five years increasing by less than 1 per cent to stand at 344,931 in April 2011. The highest growth rate was in counties Laois and Kildare with 10.3 per cent, while almost half of all counties experienced a decrease in numbers in this age group.

Young Adults

While the majority of young adults, categorized as those aged 19-24, still lived at home with one or both parents, the percentage in this category increased from 59 per cent to 66 per cent.

Adults

There was an increasing trend for people in the age group 25-64 to live in rented accommodation over the past decade with over 675,000 people in this age group renting their accommodation in 2011, an increase of 51.4 per cent since 2006 when just under 450,000 of this age group were renting.

Elderly

The population of elderly people, aged 65 or over, increased by 14.4 per cent while the number of persons aged 100 or over was recorded as 389 – an increase of 100 persons on 2006.

The number of elderly persons usually resident in nursing homes was 20,802 while the number of elderly recorded as being usually resident in hospitals across the country was 4,873.

 For more indepth information you can go to the CSO website

Exports Rise While Transport Equipment Pushes Imports Up

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Figures released for March by the Central Statistics Office show Irish exports rose by 5% when compared to the same month last year. Seasonally adjusted exports rose by €361m, while imports rose by €961m (or 26%).

The CSO pointed out that the increase in imports was largely due to significant imports of  transport equipment during the month. Chemicals and related products accounted for €5.131bn (or 60%) of the total exports of €8.499bn in the month.

Comparing March 2012 with March 2011, exports of Medical and pharmaceutical products fell by €681m (24%) while the value of exports of Organic chemicals rose by €233m (13%).

On an overall basis the EU accounted for €5.259bn (or 62%) of total exports in March 2012, with Belgium and Great Britain accounting for over half of the EU share.

The US was the main destination for exports outside the EU accounting for 17% of total exports in the month.

Retail Slips Again, But Gains Very Slightly On Previous Month

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Retail sales volumes fell by 1% on an annual basis in March but managed a slight gain of 0.2% compared to the previous month, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

If Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of retail sales increased by 0.3% in March 2012 when compared with February 2012, while there was an annual decrease of 1.7%.

Among the main monthly increases are Motors (4.1%), Bars (3.5%), Non-Specialised Stores (0.7%) and Furniture and Lighting (0.7%).

Monthly decreases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (-4.9%), Electrical Goods (-4.2%) Pharmaceuticals Medical and Cosmetic Articles (-1.6%).

The value of retail sales increased by 0.6pc in March 2012 when compared with February 2012 and there was an annual change of -0.4%.

If Motor Trades are excluded, there was a monthly increase of 0.8% in the value of retail sales and an annual change of -0.7%.

ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, has called on the Government to initiate a coherent strategy for the retail sector through the promised Retail Strategy Group before it is too late. They say thousands of shops throughout the country are struggling to keep their doors open through an unprecedented recession with the 262,000 employees in danger. The Association warned that a further 25,000 employees could lose their jobs in the next year.

Commenting, ISME Chief Executive, Mark Fielding stated, “retailers have invested heavily in their businesses and in response to the downturn, have cut their prices even though their retail sales have shrunk by 30%. At the same time the cost of running a shop has not fallen to the same extent with rents, rates, local charges, waste and even pay rates remaining high. Many of these costs are determined and driven by government, who seem to have a death wish for the sector, despite protestations of support”.

The Cost Of Living In Ireland Rises by 2.2%

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The cost of living in Ireland has increased by 2.2% in the last twelve months according to official figures revealed today from the Central Statistics Office

Inflation jumped by nearly 1% in March, while higher fuel costs pushed up transport prices. High street sales went upwards and clothing and footwear costs also rose.

Increases in Education (+9.4%), Transport (+7.6%), Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+3.9%) and Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+3.7%) all contributed to the rise.

There were decreases in Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (-2.1%), Recreation & Culture (-0.7%) and Clothing & Footwear (-0.7%).

The most significant monthly price changes were increases in Transport (+4%), Clothing & Footwear (+2.7%) and Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+1.7%).

Irish retail continues to drop – But Department Stores & Electrical Goods Rise

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Figures released by the Central Statistics Office have shown that retail within Ireland has continued to fall. February saw sales drop by 0.3%, it was preceded by a drop of 1.1% in January.

If Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of retail sales decreased by 1.0% in February 2012 when compared with January 2012, while there was an annual decrease of 2.1%.

The biggest falls were in Bars (-3.3%), Books and Newspapers (-3.2%) and Motor Trades (-2.9%).

However there was a big rise for department stores (+8.5), followed by electrical goods (+6.3%).

The value of retail sales decreased by 0.1% in February 2012 when compared with January 2012 and there was an annual change of -1.8%.

The figures have emphasised a two speed economy is alive and well in Ireland. With people saving more and more because they don’t know what more they will have taken from them in charges and taxes over the next number of years, these figures will only get worse. Austerity is causing more uncertainty within the consumer. Why will they spend when they know next year it will only get worse for them?

Trends: CSO Figures Reveal Household Spending Trends

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Irish households now spend more on the cost of keeping a roof over their heads than they do on food or anything else, according to the latest five-year survey of household expenditure from the CSO.

Covering the period between August 2009 and September 2010, the survey found that the estimated average weekly expenditure for all households in the state was €810.61.

This was 3% higher than the €787.07 figure recorded five years earlier.

The proportion of total household expenditure that related to expenditure on Food dropped from 18.1% in 2004-2005 to 16.2% in 2009-2010 whereas the proportion related to Housing increased from 12pc to 18.2pc over this five year period.

Spending on Transport decreased by just over 5% from €122.74 per week in 2004-2005 to €116.31 five years later.

Expenditure categories included in this group include expenditure on health, childcare, education, pensions and telephone. In1980 health related expenditure (e.g. expenditure on doctors, dentists, medicines and health insurance) accounted for 1.8% of total household expenditure as against 4.6% thirty years later.

Telephone related expenditure was less than 1% of total expenditure in 1980 compared with  over 3% in 2009-2010.

Households with mobile phones increased from 84.3% to 96%. The percentage of homes connected to the internet increased to 65.8%, while homes with a PC increased to 77.3%.