Weak growth for services sector

Ireland’s services sector expanded at its slowest pace so far this year in April, as the fragile local economy capped growth in new business orders.

The NCB Purchasing Managers’ Index, which measures activity in the services sector, slipped to 50.2 from 51.1 in March, barely exceeding the 50 mark which separates growth from contraction.

The index has stood above for four consecutive months.