Irish consumer sentiment falls for third month in a row

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish consumer sentiment eased in April for the third consecutive month as job worries and a spate of high-profile price increases weighed on the mood of consumers, a survey showed on Friday.

The Credit Union Consumer Sentiment index fell to 67.8 in April, down from 69.5 in March and 70.2 in February.

The fall in recent months dulls a year-end surge in Irish consumer confidence that culminated with a 12 point gain in January.

The survey's authors said the latest data suggested that things were not getting better as fast or as forcefully as many consumers expected.

The reading mirrored a modest but larger than expected fall in US consumer sentiment for April that has been attributed to slightly higher than expected inflation.

(Reporting by Graham Fahy; editing by William James)