‘Sluggish’ trade remains a concern in global economy

Figures released in the week before Christmas showed that Ireland’s seasonally- adjusted merchandise trade balance rose in October to its highest level since August 2012, exports broke the €10bn level in a single month for the first time ever, and the overall trade surplus in 2015 is set to post its first absolute increase since 2010.

On the surface, the data would suggest a healthy global trading environment, but that would be far from the case.

Ireland benefits enormously from its US multinational components, and in particular the pharmaceuticals industry as regards merchandise trade.