DUBLIN, April 5 (Reuters) - Growth in the Irish services
sector eased in March as activity and new business expanded at a
slightly slower pace than the previous month, a survey showed on
Wednesday.
The AIB S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for
services slipped to 55.7 from 58.2 in February, but stayed well
above the 50 mark separating expansion from contraction for the
25th successive month.
It was also in line with a flash reading for the euro zone
of 55.6, bringing an end to a trend where Ireland's services
sector had long outpaced the euro zone as a whole.
All four monitored industries registered growth, including
the transport, tourism and leisure sector that expanded for the
first time since August thanks to a strong rise in new business
as the St. Patrick's Day holiday weekend kicked off Ireland's
tourist season.
The survey also showed a further slowdown in the rate of
input and output price inflation, though it was much more
pronounced for prices charged as firms continued to report
upward pressure on across a broad range of inputs, in particular
wages and energy bills.
Input costs have remained stubbornly high over the last four
months for the services sector, unlike in manufacturing where a
PMI survey earlier this week found they were nearing levels that
would signal a stabilisation in prices.
(Reporting by Graham Fahy, editing by Padraic Halpin and Hugh
Lawson)
Messaging: padraic.halpin.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
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