We’ve picked six economic pressure points to watch out for in 2026. Photograph: Mark Abramson/The New York TimesUS growth driven by consumer spending and spending on AI also remains relatively strong. The Department of Finance is expecting receipts to climb again in 2026, to a record €34 billion. Four years ago the Government adopted, then quickly abandoned, a 5 per cent spending rule. The initial economic boost caused by surging military spending appears to be over and activity has slowed markedly.

Source: The Irish Times December 31, 2025 12:00 UTC