The country’s manufacturing sector saw a slight downturn in November, with fears of a further contraction as new orders have weakened.
The latest AIB Ireland Manufacturing PMI fell to 49.9 from 51.5 in October.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates growth, while below that level signals a contraction.
This marks the third time in six months that the index has fallen below 50, highlighting ongoing challenges in the sector.
The decline was driven by a sharp drop in new orders, the steepest since June, with manufacturers citing fragile consumer demand and subdued global economic conditions.
It also resulted in a drop in the numbers being hired for the third month in-a-row.
David McNamara, AIB’s chief economist said: “While the headline index fell in November, output rose in the month for the second consecutive month and at the fastest pace since February.
“Some respondents noted inventory rebuilding had helped to underpin the rise …