RTÉ Business

1. US Congress passes spending bill to avert shutdown

   The US Congress has averted a Christmastime government shutdown after weeks of tense negotiations that went down to the wire, passing a bill to fund federal agencies through mid-March.

2. Average mortgage for first-time buyer hits high of €290k

   The average mortgage value for a first time buyer has hit a record high of just under €290,000, new data shows.

3. Three Ireland to refund €3.76m in roaming charges

   Three Ireland is to refund around 14,000 customers approximately €3.76m in roaming charges.

4. Over 4,600 applications for 195 cost-rental apartments

   More than 4,600 applications have been received for just 195 cost-rental apartments at a new development in Dublin.

5. Daa seeks to increase airport passenger cap to 36m a year

   The operator of Dublin Airport has confirmed it is submitting an application seeking to increase the passenger cap to 36 million a year.

6. Lone parents more likely to struggle with spending needs

   Lone parents, households with children, single working-age adults and renters are the groups most likely to have an income that does not meet their basic expenditure needs, according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

7. Guinness shortage in Britain amid 'exceptional demand'

   Diageo, which owns Guinness, has blamed "exceptional consumer demand for Guinness in Britain" for the supply challenges it now faces.

8. Demand for holidays here fall below expectations - review

   A Fáilte Ireland overview of the tourism season just gone said the industry had struggled through a "challenging year" with demand for holidays here falling well below expectation.

9. Foreign visitor spending slows by 5.4% in November - CSO

   New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that 407,700 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland in November, a decrease of 8.9% compared with the same time last year.

10. Aengus Cox named RTÉ News Ag & Consumer Correspondent

    RTÉ News has announced the appointment of journalist Aengus Cox as its new Agriculture and Consumer Affairs correspondent.