Manufacturing dips for first time in seven months

THE manufacturing sector slumped in September for the first time in seven months as Ireland lags Europe, where the sector continues to expand.

The NCB Purchasing Managers’ Index, which measures the Irish manufacturing sector, fell sharply to 48.4 from 51.1 in August, dipping below the 50 mark separating growth from contraction for the first time since February.

The same gauge of manufacturing in the eurozone fell to 53.7 in September from 55.1 the previous month, London-based Markit Economics said.