Irish consumer sentiment improves in May but remains below long-term trend

DUBLIN, May 22 (Reuters) - Irish ​consumer ⁠sentiment improved in May ​but remained well below the long-term average ​as the ‌conflict in the Middle East ⁠continued to weigh on confidence, a ⁠survey showed ​on Friday.

The Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey climbed to 59.4 in May, a significant ​jump ‌from a 40-month low of 53.3 in April, but well below the long-term survey average of ​83.3.

The survey's authors pointed to a ‌ceasefire in the Middle East and the announcement of Irish ‌Government energy support measures as likely contributing to the improvement.

"The May sentiment survey ​still points to a nervous Irish consumer who ‌sees Irish economic conditions and their own household finances now set on a ⁠weakening ⁠path," economist Austin Hughes said ‌in an analysis of the data.

"However, the ​slight ​uptick this month suggests ‌that this deterioration may be less devastating than previously feared." (Reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Chris Reese)