Manufacturing sector growth accelerated last month after slowing to a 15-month low in November, figures released today showed.
The latest NCB Purchasing Managers' Index gave a reading of 53, up from 51.6 in November. Any figure above 50 signals growth.
Dermot O'Brien, NCB chief economist, said there was a strengthening in new orders while there was renewed growth in export orders.
Employment growth in the sector rose to 51.6 from 50.4 in November, according to the index. However, cost inflation continued to grow with the index unchanged from November at 59.1.
