Irish manufacturing booms again in May but price hikes mean Government 'needs to target stimulus'   

Irish factories, such as the Pfizer site in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, faced a sharp rise in input costs, with prices of  "steel, wood, paper, chemicals and plastics" all increasing in May, according to the survey. 

Irish factories boomed for a second month in May as the global economy roared back from the Covid slump but an increase in manufacturing costs poses a problem for the Government as it plans its economic stimulus programme. 

The AIB manufacturing survey of Irish purchasing managers is closely watched around the world because so many multinationals have huge facilities in pharmaceutical, medical devices and IT based here.