Business sentiment - September 2013

Companies’ perceptions of the business environment in Ireland improved dramatically in the third quarter of 2013, with the index recording a reading of +17. This represents the index’s highest reading since it began in 2009 and its first positive overall reading. This follows from managers’ confidence in the three-month outlook climbing into positive territory for the first time in the history of the series in Q2 2013.

The Q3 employment intentions index was positive for the third consecutive quarter indicating further job growth in the second half of the year. Order books also improved sharply in the quarter to a reading of +32.