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Useful stats to know this week

This week saw unemployment fall, continued signs of an improved consumer sentiment, and good news for the fiscal position of the Government. Services and manufacturing both had a good month in May and expect it to continue into the future.

Unemployment has fallen by 40,500 since May 2014

  • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 9.8% in May 2015, down from 11.7% in May 2014.

To find out more check out CSO Monthly Unemployment.

11.% drop in numbers on the Live Register in May 2015 compared to same period last year

  • This May there were 345,633 people signing onto the Live Register. That's 11.1% lower than last May.
  • The Live Register recorded a seasonally adjusted decrease of 2,600 people over the month.

To find out more check out CSO Live Register.

Consumer Sentiment stays at one of the highest levels since 2006

  • The overall Consumer Sentiment Index remained largely unchanged in May at 98.7.
  • 50% of respondents to the survey expect the unemployment situation to improve in the next year.

To find out more check out KBC/ESRI Consumer Sentiment Index.

Manufacturing output grows at the fastest for nine months in May

  • The Investec manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index recorded 57.1 in May. Any result over 50 in a Purchasing Managers' Index indicates the the sector is strengthening.
  • Output recorded 59.6 while employment increased to 57.6.

To find out more check out Investec Manufacturing PMI

Two report show increase in services activity and confidence

  • The Investec Services Purchasing Managers' Index recorded 61.4 for business activity and 79.1 for confidence.
  • Employment saw a sharper increase than the previous month, recording 60.9.
  • The CSO Monthly Services Index rose by 3.6% in the year to April.
  • Compared with March it fell by 0.6%.
  • In the year the big changes were in Accommodation and Food Service Activities and Wholesale and Retail Trade.

To find out more check out Investec Services PMI and the CSO Monthly Services Index

Tax receipts in May were €216 million (5.1%) better than the monthly profile

  • To the end of May the a surplus of 641 million euro was recorded, compared with a deficit of 3,469 million euro towards the same period last year.
  • Spending for the period was on profile.

To find out more check out Department of Finance Exchequer Returns.