INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION rose in January, according to new data from the Central Statistics Office.

Production from manufacturing industries was 0.7 per cent higher in January compared with December 2011. But on an annual basis, productions fell slightly, decreasing by 0.1 per cent.

“The worry is though that with production weakening in the latter part of 2011, there will be a negative carry-over into 2012, which doesn’t augur well for the prospects of Irish exports in the near-term, an integral part of Ireland’s economic recovery hopes,” said Bloxham chief economist Alan McQuaid.