Irish mortgages arrears fell to nine-year low before coronavirus test

DUBLIN (Reuters) - The number of Irish homeowners in arrears for more than 90 days fell to 5.7% at the end of December from 5.9% three months earlier, the lowest level in nine years, data collected well before the coronavirus outbreak showed on Friday. The proportion of residential investment property loans in arrears over 90 days also fell for the second quarter in a row, having risen unexpectedly to the highest level in more than a year last June, the data from Ireland's central bank showed.