Average consumer prices in Ireland have fallen for the ninth month in a row, according to the latest inflation figures from the CSO.

Business group IBEC today said that manufacturing in Ireland is in need of emergency support from the Government.

The latest detailed labour market data from the CSO show that the employment situation was still quite positive at the beginning of this year, but IBEC cautioned that a lot has changed since the survey was undertaken and the labour market is now much weaker.