DUBLIN Irish consumer sentiment improved in October as tax cuts and increased spending in the annual state budget helped ease consumer gloom, a survey showed on Tuesday.

The Credit Union Consumer Sentiment index climbed to 60.4 this month from 58.8 in September, a six-month low. The index stood at 77 in February 2022, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and dropped to a 14-year low of 42.1 in September 2022.

"The broad tone of Irish consumer sentiment remains cautious, as cost-of-living concerns remain elevated and nervousness about the outlook for jobs has increased," the Credit Union said in a statement.

(Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Mike Harrison)