Manufacturing recovery stalls with output down for first time in 3 months

The recent recovery evident in Ireland’s manufacturing sectors stalled in April, with output falling for the first time in three months.

While the latest monthly manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI), from NCB Stockbrokers fell from a reading of 51.5 points in March to 50.1 in April, it still remained over the neutral 50 point mark which separates a sector in growth mode from one in decline.

April was only the third time in 11 months when the index was at or above the 50 point mark.