Figures released by NCB Stockbrokers this morning show a continued solid improvement of business conditions in Irish manufacturing.
The seasonally adjusted NCB Purchasing Managers' Index single-figure measure of the economic health of the manufacturing industry - posted a level above the critical 50.0 mark for the twenty-ninth consecutive month.
The headline index figure declined marginally, posting 53.2 in January from December's 53.4.
Volumes of orders from abroad also increased in January, albeit at a moderate pace compared to that seen over the previous four months.
Eunan King of NCB Stockbrokers said "the manufacturing sector is maintaining steady if unspectacular growth with the PMI index steady at above the 53 level since October.
"Employment is still rising but sluggishly," he added.
