3rd Sep 2026 01:36
(Alliance News) - Ireland’s private sector activity strengthened in August as both services and manufacturing delivered firmer growth, S&P Global reported Thursday.
The AIB Ireland composite purchasing managers' index increased to 55.4 points in August from 54.9 points in July.
A reading above the 50.0-point neutral mark indicates an overall increase in month-on-month business activity, while a reading below signals a contraction.
The services PMI rose to 55.4 points in August from 55.2 points in the previous month.
David McNamara, AIB chief economist, commented: "New business continued to grow strongly following a dip in activity earlier in the year, while new export business also expanded on the month, albeit at a more modest pace than in July.
"Higher activity was driven by increased demand and new business wins."
According to S&P Global, financial led the services sector growth, followed by technology, media and telecoms. Transport, tourism and leisure recorded its first increase in six months while business had the weakest growth in five months.
Despite the growth in activity, employment fell marginally for the first time since March.
Inflationary pressure on input cost rose for the first time in four months along with the rate of charge inflation.
"In terms of the outlook, business sentiment continued to strengthen in August, reaching an 18-month high. Optimism was linked to new business, investments, marketing, planned expansions and new projects," AIB's McNamara added.
On Tuesday, S&P Global said the Ireland manufacturing PMI rose to 55.4 points in August from 55.1 points in July.
S&P Global compiles the PMI figures each month using survey responses from a panel of 400 service sector companies and around 250 manufacturers.
The composite figure is a weighted average of the services PMI and manufacturing output index.
By Judy Amaca, Alliance News reporter Asia-Pacific
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