Exports rise 2%, CSO figures show

Irish exports continue to the be the star of the economy rising by 2% according to seasonally adjusted figures released by the CSO, but the domestic economy is “stagnant”.

Despite fears the export sector was about to fall off the “patent cliff” after very weak figures from the pharmaceutical sector in September, output from the pharma sector was up 3.3%.

Philip O’Sullivan, chief economist at NCB stockbrokers, said the sector had not fallen as much as had been feared.