Services surge signals strong economic growth

New orders rose at the quickest pace for five months, with firms reporting higher demand and improved economic conditions

Confidence among service providers slumps. Pic: Getty

A measure of activity in the services sector has indicated that the Irish economy continued to grow strongly last month, with new business, job creation and business confidence all rising at a faster pace.

The AIB Services PMI, compiled by research group HIS Markit, recorded 57, up from 54.7 in April and the highest figure since last November. Any figure above 50 signals growth.

This is in marked contrast toa survey of the manufacturing sector earlier this week, which showed that factory output fell during May and activity increased only slightly.