There was a solid rise in business activity among service providers in December, according to the latest NCB purchasing managers’ services Index.

FOR the first time since August 2003 Irish manufacturing suffered a decline in output last month, according to the latest NCB Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).

Figures released today show that the service sector continued its growth in September, but at the slowest rate for more than four years.

READY access to credit helps oil the engine of the global economy.

THE manufacturing sector grew steadily last month, though at a slightly slower rate than in June.

GROWTH in the service sector of the economy accelerated last month due to higher levels of new business, according to the NCB Purchasing Managers’ Services Index which recorded 56.9 in June, up from 54.9 in May. Any figure above 50 indicates growth.

Higher new business levels contributed to a further increase in activity at firms in the Irish service sector in May, according to the NCB Purchasing Managers’ Services Index.

THE next generation of Celtic Tiger cubs is on the way with a new report showing Ireland will have the highest young population in Europe by 2010.

NCB Stockbrokers is forecasting continued “steady and robust” expansion in Ireland’s manufacturing economy.

The results of the monthly NCB survey of the Irish services economy were announced today.

AS oil prices hit new highs yesterday, petrol prices were set to revert to the record levels reached last August when the average price of unleaded rose to 108.5 cents per litre.

SINCE the 1960s this State has made economic development its main target and the Celtic Tiger was the culmination of that effort.

THE burning question as to whether Ireland’s buoyant economy can continue to soar, or whether it is flying perilously on ‘one wing’ perplexes the average person and divides economists.

AN expanding population will continue to deliver strong economic growth over the next 15 years, according to a major economic outlook forecast.

THE Irish manufacturing sector was in top form in November, according to the latest survey of purchasing managers by NCB Stockbrokers.

Rising immigration and continued growth in income are key to sustaining demand and supporting prices in the Irish housing market.

Costs facing Irish service providers continued to accelerate last month at the strongest rate since May 2001, according to the NCB Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for September, published yesterday.

COSTS facing Irish service providers continued to accelerate last month at the strongest rate since May 2001, according to the NCB Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for September, published yesterday.

INDUSTRIAL production is continuing to decline but a leading economist says the service industry have replaced manufacturing as the main driver of job creation.

Business conditions in the Irish manufacturing sector showed a further improvement in March, according to the latest NCB survey.

RISING oil prices could push the price of petrol up to over 110 cent per litre, a top economist warned last night.

THE environment facing Irish manufacturers continued to improve during December thanks to stronger demand and greater exports to Britain and Europe, according to figures published yesterday.

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

The performance of the Irish manufacturing economy improved for the 15th month running in November.

CONSUMER confidence bounced back last month, while the services sector also saw strong growth in activity and new business, according to figures released yesterday.

THE services sector continued its strong growth and created more jobs last month, according to a leading economic survey published yesterday.

Growth in business activity was sustained in July, according to the NCB Purchasing Managers’ Services Index, published today.

MANUFACTURING activity continued to grow in June, but at a slower pace than in May, according to the latest figures from NCB Stockbrokers.

GROWTH in the services sector of the economy held up well in April, the latest PMI survey has revealed.

DESPITE increasing order books for a fifth month in a row, Irish manufacturers cut jobs for the second month in a row, the NCB Purchasing Manager’s Index shows.

THERE was good news for Irish manufacturers yesterday as a survey of output and new business orders showed conditions continued to improve during December.

THE services side of the economy has shown its fastest growth rate since April 2002, according to the NCB Stockbrokers PMI services sector indicator.

JOB losses in the services sector has halted for the first time in more than a year following an increase in numbers employed in September.

THE rate of decline of the manufacturing industry has slowed but employers are still shedding jobs and dropping prices, the NCB Purchasing Managers’ Index indicates.

THE Irish services economy recorded its strongest growth in five months but increasing wage and insurance costs are hampering further progress, it emerged yesterday.

AS the manufacturing sector struggles, due to a loss of competitiveness and the global economic slowdown, a senior economist with NCB has warned that job losses will continue.

THE pace of house price growth is set to slow over the remainder of the year but lower interest rates and sheer demand will ensure valuations will continue to rise, experts believe.

THE fall in Irish manufacturing in June was almost four times greater than the European average and in sharp contrast with our largest trading partner, Britain, where manufacturing grew.

THE rapid rise in house prices is set to stop or even decline, according to a report from NCB stockbrokers.

IRELAND’S service sector contracted in May in line with the rest of the eurozone but in sharp contrast to the country’s largest traded partner Britain.

ECONOMISTS have clashed in a row over whether GDP or GNP is the best measure of the state of the economy.