Drop in manufacturing as orders fall

THE fall in Irish manufacturing in June was almost four times greater than the European average and in sharp contrast with our largest trading partner, Britain, where manufacturing grew.

The NCB Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which was conducted by NTC Research, shows the index dropped to 45.7, from 47.5 in May.

A figure below 50 indicates a contraction, and the rate of deterioration in June was the fastest since the survey began in May 1998.