Global pressure to slow factory output

WEAKER growth in manufacturing output is forecast for the year ahead as global demand slows and the strong euro makes Irish goods more expensive.

This is according to Bloxhams economist, Alan McQuaid, who was commenting on figures released by the CSO yesterday which showed manufacturing and industrial output decreased in the three months from September to November last year compared with the preceding three-months.

The seasonally adjusted volume of industrial output for the period was down 2.8%, while manufacturing output decreased 3.1% over the same time span.