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Ireland's services sector reports strong recovery in June

DUBLIN
2021-08-04 03:16

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DUBLIN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The output value of the non-financial services sector in Ireland grew by nearly 16 percent in June compared with the same month last year, said the country's Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Tuesday.

The highest growth was recorded in the accommodation and food sector, which saw a 57.1-percent increase in June on an annual basis, said the CSO.

This was followed by a 50.9-percent growth for other service activities, 18 percent for information and communication, 17.5 percent for transportation and storage, 15.3 percent for wholesale and retail trade, and 4 percent for administrative and support service activities, it said.

The only sector to show an annual decrease in activity in June was professional, scientific and technological activities which reported a 3.3-percent decrease year-on-year, according to the CSO.

The strong growth in the accommodation and food sector was largely driven by the government's lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions on the hospitality sector.

On June 2, the Irish government allowed all hotels to reopen their services to overnight guests. A few days later, it permitted all restaurants and bars to reopen outdoor services to customers.

Industry watchers believe the July 26 decision of the government to allow restaurants and bars to provide indoor services to people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from the disease in the past six months will ensure sustained growth in the sector.

They also believe that with more people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ireland, more restrictive measures currently imposed on the services sector will be lifted.

So far over 72 percent of the adults in Ireland have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a tweet posted by Prime Minister Micheal Martin last weekend.
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