Businesses have been warned to prepare for a sustained period of uncertainty as exports fell by 4 per cent in August to the lowest level this year. Seasonally-adjusted goods exports fell by €395 million to €9.01 billion compared with the previous month. The level of imports increased by €87 million, or 2 per cent, to €5.4 billion in the month, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Alan McQuaid, chief economist at Merrion, the stockbrokers, said that while exports dropped to their lowest level this year, imports recorded just a modest increase. He also warned there was unlikely to be any rally in the value of sterling in the near future.

Source: The Times October 17, 2017 23:02 UTC