Ireland’s services economy returned to growth in May, as the AIB Ireland Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) moved back above the crucial 50.0 threshold. The index rose to 50.8 in May 2026, up from 49.7 in April 2026, signaling a shift from marginal contraction to modest expansion in the sector.
The improvement suggests a stabilisation in services activity after a weaker April, when the PMI had slipped below the 50.0 mark that separates growth from decline. While the May reading points to only a slight recovery, it indicates that service providers are seeing a gradual pickup in demand and business activity.
The latest data, updated on 4 June 2026, will be closely watched by investors and policymakers as a potential early sign that Ireland’s broader economic momentum may be firming, with the services sector typically a key driver of employment and output in the country.
