Opinion

John Walsh: Irish savers are the big losers as banking market contraction continues

Reluctant to erode profitability, the banks are showing no appetite to increase deposit rates

The threat of deflation was much greater than inflation during most of the period since the economic crisis

The fallout from the contraction of the Irish banking market is ongoing, but what can be said for certain at this stage is that Irish savers are among the biggest losers.

Irish deposit rates are among the lowest in the EU. But then again, the deposit rate offered by the Post Office has barely nudged in the past year, which means the government cannot point a finger at the banks.

The interest rate environment has ...