Activity in the services sector rose in September from August, according to the latest NCB Purchasing Managers Services Index today. The index rose to 53.7 from 52.5 in August, after a mid-year slump in growth.
NCB said today's latest figures suggested further strengthening of service sector expansion after faltering growth in June and July.
'Coming on the heels of indications that the slowdown in manufacturing may be stabilising, a second month of accelerated growth in services sector activity is very encouraging evidence of the resilience of the Irish economy,' said Eunan King, NCB's senior economist.
He said that growth of demand for services had increased for the tenth month in a row, however overall staffing levels had fallen for the third month running as efforts to eliminate spare capacity were sustained.
NCB said that service sector optimism remained generally strong in September, although there were a number of firms whose confidence remained dented as market instability continued to cloud visibility.
