Irish manufacturing continues to strengthen

December data showed business conditions in the Irish manufacturing sector continued to strengthen.

Furthermore, the seasonally adjusted Purchasing Managers’ Index – an indicator

designed to provide a measure of the economic health of the manufacturing industry –

rose to 53.1 (from 51.3).

This indicates that, after easing over recent months, the rate of industry growth had accelerated.

Output and new orders both expanded at sharper rates compared to November.

Purchasing activity amongst Irish manufacturing companies continued to expand in December, and at a quicker pace than that recorded in November.

Eunan King, senior economist at NCB Stockbrokers, said: "Employment continues to grow and while costs continue to rise fairly sharply, output prices accelerated a little further."