Dublin — 4 December 2025 — Ireland’s domestic economy continued to perform strongly in the third quarter of 2025, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The data shows Modified Domestic Demand (MDD) — the State’s preferred measure of underlying economic activity — grew by over 5% year‑on‑year, signalling ongoing resilience despite global uncertainty.
Consumer spending also strengthened, rising 2.4% compared with the same period last year, while headline GDP surged by 10.8%, driven largely by robust goods exports, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector.
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris welcomed the results, noting that the figures “confirm the continued resilience of the domestic economy,” though he cautioned that MDD may slightly overstate underlying conditions. He highlighted the “encouraging” rise in consumer spending and pointed to strong exchequer returns published earlier in the week as further evidence of economic stability.
The Tánaiste said the double‑digit GDP growth recorded across the first three quarters was partly fuelled by front‑loading of pharmaceutical exports to the U.S. ahead of anticipated tariffs. He added that the sustained strength of GDP in recent quarters suggests deeper structural drivers, including elevated global demand for specific pharmaceutical sub‑categories.
However, Harris warned that a recent slowdown in jobs growth underscores the need for vigilance. “We cannot take the continued healthy position of the economy for granted,” he said.
The Government is preparing to publish its medium‑term fiscal structural plan in the coming weeks, outlining strategies to maintain sustainable public finances. Harris said Ireland’s improved fiscal position in recent years leaves the country “in a strong position to face the challenges ahead.”
