The country's services industry grew in April for the first time since January 2008, with companies growing more confident about economic prospects.
The latest NCB Services Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 51 from 49.6 in March. The index broke through the 50 level separating growth from contraction for the first time in 27 months.
NCB said the rise in the PMI adds to mounting evidence that the recession has ended here.
'Mirroring the trend for business activity, three of the four broad categories monitored by the survey posted higher new orders in April, with business services the only sector to record a contraction,' commented NCB economist Brian Devine.
He added that the biggest expansion was seen at transport and leisure companies, where new business grew for the third month in a row.
While companies surveyed saw higher levels of new business, they said that economic conditions remained fragile. New business levels rose for the first time in 27 months.
Irish services companies were again strongly optimistic in April amid signs of economic recovery. A number of firms said that export markets would be a key source of growth over 2010.
The survey revealed that new orders rose marginally last month. Before this, new business had fallen every month since February 2008. NCB said that the rate of growth in new export orders was more marked than that seen for overall new business and was the steepest since October 2007.
However, employment levels continued to fall in April and at a slightly faster pace than in the previous month.
The survey also shows that input prices fell further, due to increased competition among suppliers. But higher fuel costs limited the pace of reduction last month.
