Manufacturing sector sees 'slight deterioration' in December 

Business conditions worsened during the final months of 2023, according to AIB survey

In December, the PMI registered 48.9 — down from the 50.0 recorded in November — below the neutral threshold for the third time in the past four months.

The Irish manufacturing sector saw a “slight deterioration” during December as production volumes and new orders declined, but expectations for 2024 remain positive.

According to the AIB Irish Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), business conditions worsened during the final months of 2023 as “overstocked customers” and caution around the near-term economic outlook remained headwinds to new orders in December.