Рост сектора услуг в Ирландии замедляется, проявляются последствия ближневосточной войны

Investing.com — According to the AIB Ireland services sector PMI survey published on Tuesday, growth in Ireland’s services sector in March was at one of the weakest levels in five years, as the outbreak of the Middle East war boosted costs and weakened business confidence.

The AIB Ireland services business activity index fell from 51.8 in February to 50.7 in March, declining for the fourth consecutive month and posting the slowest growth rate in seven months. The reading only indicated slight expansion, well below the long-run average of 55.0.

Three of the four sub-sectors achieved moderate growth. The business services index was 51.5, financial services 51.0, and technology, media and telecommunications reached 51.4. The transportation, tourism and leisure sector contracted to 47.6, marking the ninth decline in 12 months.

Growth in new business slowed for the fourth consecutive month, hitting the weakest pace since August, while new export business was broadly flat.

Input costs surged at the fastest rate in three years. Respondents attributed higher spending to fuel, energy, wages, pension contributions, raw materials and professional services; the Middle East war and supply chain disruptions were cited as contributing factors. The transportation, tourism and leisure sector saw the fastest rise in costs among the sub-sectors.

Service providers cut staffing numbers in March, marking only the third employment decline in five years. Employment in the three sub-sectors fell slightly, while financial services saw a slight increase.

Business confidence fell to its lowest level since October 2020. Firms said uncertainty about how the war would affect the global economy and domestic consumer confidence weighed on their outlook.

The AIB Ireland composite PMI output index, combining manufacturing and services data, fell from 52.5 in February to 52.1 in March, indicating that the pace of private-sector expansion was the slowest in six months.

AIB chief economist David McNamara said the services PMI at 50.7 showed very modest growth, with activity levels weakening amid slower growth in new business and rising costs related to the Middle East war.

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