Irish manufacturing marks year-and-a-half of growth in Nov - PMI
DUBLIN, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Irish manufacturing activity increased for the 18th month in a row in November as exporters saw new orders flood in at the fastest rate in almost four years, a survey showed on Monday.
Ireland last year became the first bailed-out euro zone country to exit its international assistance programme. The government is forecasting growth of almost 5 percent this year, which would likely make it the best-performing economy in the 18-member bloc.
The Investec Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index stood at 56.2 in November, down from 56.6 a month earlier but comfortably above the 50 mark that indicates growth and not far short of the 15-year high of 57.3 in August.
While growth in new orders slowed for the third successive month after August's peak, the sub-index measuring new export orders jumped to 59.3 from 54.8 in October to mark its highest reading since February 2011.
"This is a very welcome result given the softer trends emanating from the eurozone of late – with respondents crediting higher demand from the UK - helped by sterling strength - and Asia for this outturn," said Investec Ireland chief economist Philip O'Sullivan.
"Another sign of confidence is the Employment index, which reveals a further sharp rise in hiring last month. More than twice as many firms are adding to headcounts than are cutting staffing levels."
