Services sector grows in August

August saw Ireland's services sector expanding for the first time in four months, latest figures have revealed.

The NCB Services Purchasing Managers Index, showed a modest increase in new business from both domestic and external sources.

The business activity index was at 51.7 in August, up from 49.1 in July. A score above 50 signals an increase on the previous month. Readings below 50 signal a decrease.

The individual index scores for confidence, new business, new exports and input costs all scored above the 50 mark, although employment, backlogs of work, charges and profitability returned negative scores.