Figures from NCB Stockbrokers show that activity in the country's manufacturing sector grew only modestly last month.
Its Purchasing Managers' Index recorded 51.3, a faster pace of growth than March's 18-month low of 50.7 but still only slightly above the 50 mark which separates growth from contraction.
NCB chief economist Dermot O'Brien said the improvement was entirely due to home demand as export orders were again weak. New export orders fell for the second month in a row, but employment grew at a slightly faster rate, with the employment index moving up to 51.
High oil prices continued to contribute to another strong rise in costs, though the rate of inflation eased marginally to 59.3, the weakest for 13 months. The index for average prices charged was down from 54.2 to 54.1.
