Ireland: Manufacturing PMI rises in March
The AIB manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 57.1 in March, from February’s 52.0. As a result, the index moved well-above the 50-threshold that indicates an improvement in Irish business conditions compared to the previous month.
March’s jump was largely owing to a strong expansion in both output and new orders, as well as exports amid improved foreign demand, particularly in Europe and the U.S. Moreover, firms increased their staffing levels for the sixth successive month and at the fastest pace in more than two years in March, amid higher confidence over future output—the strongest in almost two years. Regarding prices, input cost inflation rose at the sharpest rate in ten years, as raw material shortages, logistics disruptions and costs emanating for new UK trading rules, exerted upward pressure. This, resulted in higher output charge inflation, as firms hiked their selling prices.