| The sheer weight of numbers of mature consumers in Ireland, in combination with their increasing spending power, has resulted in a grey market of increasing importance. The 45+ grey market accounts for 36% of the population in NI and 33% of the population in RoI. Over this age earnings tend to peak, mortgages come to an end and children tend to move out, providing this age group with more disposable income and making them the wealthiest segment of the population. The size and wealth of this group is expected to grow further.
The population of this market is forecast to increase by 8.5% in RoI and 7.1% in NI by 2008, meaning that the grey market accounts for the majority of population increase. Average earnings of this group have also been increasing at a higher rate than those of adults under 40 years, with the trend expected to increase due to growing levels of economic activity among mature adults. Their financial power can be especially felt across the financial and leisure arenas in Ireland, where grey consumers are becoming the key markets for an increasing number of companies.
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