THE SPOTLIGHT economic event of Easter week will be tomorrow’s hairshirt budget.

Thursday sees the release of inflation figures for March, which are expected to show a further decline of more than 2 per cent in the annual inflation rate.

MONDAY

Results: Apogee

Meetings: Siptu protest march over local authority cutbacks (Beechmount shopping centre, Navan to county hall).

Indicators: EU Sentix Investor Confidence, producer price index (Feb) and retail sales (Feb); Irish industrial stocks (Q4) and capital assets in industry (Q4).

Other: Childcare campaign motion debated at four local Dublin authorities; Quick Service Food Alliance launches campaign against catering joint labour commissions (Buswells Hotel, Kildare Street).

TUESDAY

Emergency budget

Results: Alcoa; Bed Bath Beyond

Meetings: NTMA post-budget briefing.

Indicators: EU GDP (Q4); Irish overseas travel (Feb); US ABC/Washington Post consumer confidence; UK Nationwide consumer confidence (Mar) and NIESR GDP estimate (Mar).

WEDNESDAY

Indicators: US MBA mortgage applications, wholesale inventories (Feb) and FOMC minutes.

THURSDAY

Results: Chevron

Meetings: Innovate or Stagnate seminar run by Laois Enterprise Board (Maldron Hotel, Portlaoise).

Indicators: ECB monthly bulletin; Irish consumer price index (Mar) and industrial production turnover (Feb).

Other: Band of England interest rate decision.

GOOD FRIDAY

Indicators: US federal budget (Mar).