Ireland’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 61.1 in September 2026 from 63.2 in the previous month, marking its lowest level since May. The decline reversed August’s increase and was described by the survey as “marginal,” suggesting consumers were not dramatically more negative. However, the index remained well below its long-term survey average of 83.0 and the latest 10-year average of 76.1. Renewed concerns over rising energy prices, linked to the ongoing US-Iran war, along with signs of a cooling jobs market, higher interest rates and rising health insurance costs weighed on household finances and their outlook for the next 12 months. Attention now turns to next month’s budget, with consumers prioritizing improvements in healthcare, help with living costs, measures to ease the housing shortage and a lower tax burden, while half of respondents did not expect their standard of living to improve after the budget.