DUBLIN, Oct 25 Reuters Irish consumer sentiment improved in October, rising to 74.1 from 71.9 the previous month on a slight easing in costofliving pressures and a modest but not dramatic boost from the Oct. 1 giveaway budget, a survey showed on Friday.

The latest reading is well below the Credit Union Consumer Sentiment index39;s longterm average of 84.3 and shows that consumers remain guarded in how they assess their own finances and the broader economic backdrop, the survey39;s authors said.

Reporting by Padraic Halpin; editing by Sarah Young

Source Reuters