The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) conducted a controlled auction experiment involving some 800 participants. It found participants’ bids were pushed higher in open auctions managed by estate agents or online platforms than in sealed bid auctions. Ciara O’Brien writes that the chilling effect of Trump tariffs is being blamed as funding fell 23 per cent on the previous year. Finally, with Valentine’s Day looming later this week, AIB has drilled into its card spending patterns to discover that the average amount men spent on flowers for their loved ones on the same day last year was €62. Kerry men spent €72 on average and I had better not say who was at the other end of the table.

Source: The Irish Times February 09, 2026 11:06 UTC