Irish factories expand output as costs 'remain  intense'      

Staff shortages and global supply delays slowed expansion

Crude oil heads for gains of more than 16% in January.

Orders for factories have picked up but elevated input cost inflation has eased, in a somewhat encouraging sign for Irish manufacturing and the wider economy, the latest purchasing managers' survey suggests.

The AIB Irish Purchasing Managers' Index showed that staff shortages and global supply delays had slowed expansion but that demand had nonetheless increased in January.