Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Extra information
For more information on this release:
E-mail: business_stats@cso.ie Stephanie Kelleher (+353)21 453 5123
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5074

This release has been compiled during the COVID-19 crisis. The results contained in this release reflect some of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 situation. For further information see Information Note on Implications of COVID-19 on the Monthly Services Index March 2022

CSO statistical release, , 11am

Monthly Services Index

March 2022 (Provisional) February 2022 (Final)

Monthly Services Index (Base Year 2015 = 100)
  Value Index Volume Index
March 2020120.1 114.7
March 2021118.7 114.7
February 2022148.1 132.8
March 2022154.5 139.6
% change 
Monthly4.4% 5.1%
Annual 30.2% 21.7%
March 2020 - March 202228.6% 21.7%

Monthly Services increased by 4.4% in March 2022, while volume increased by 5.1%

Monthly Services Index March 2022 Figure 1
go to full release

The value of services output in March 2022 increased by 4.4% when compared with February 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, the value of services was 30.2% higher in March 2022 compared with March 2021 when Ireland was in Level 5 lockdown. In March, most sectors showed an increase in activity compared to the previous month. The largest monthly increases were recorded in Other Service Activities (+8.1%), Information and Communication (+7.6%), Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities (+3.2%) and Administrative and Support Service Activities (+3.0%). Decreases were recorded in Transportation and Storage (-4.3%) and Accommodation and Food Service Activities (-2.8%).

On an annual basis, all sectors showed an increase in activity. A number of sectors showed large annual increases in the value of services, compared with March 2021 when Ireland was in Level 5 lockdown. The largest annual increases were in Accommodation and Food Service Activities (+185%), Other Service Activities (+95%), Information and Communication (+34.1%) and Professional and Scientific and Technical Activities (+31.9%). Other sectors which also showed an increase when compared to the same period of the previous year were Transportation and Storage (+19.6%), Administrative and Support Service Activities (+17.1%) and Wholesale and Retail Trade (+9.6%).

The value of services in March 2022 was 28.6% higher than March 2020 (two years earlier, the beginning of COVID-19). The majority of sectors have shown an increase since March 2020, including Information and Communication (+45.8%), Accommodation and Food Service Activities (+40.4%), Other Service Activities (+35.4%), Professional Scientific and Technical Activities (+15.9%), Transportation and Storage (+13.0%) and Wholesale and Retail Trade (+11.3%). The only sector to record a decrease in activity was Administrative and Support Service Activities (-6.7%).

The volume of services output in March 2022 increased by 5.1% when compared with February 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. The sectors with the highest monthly volume increases were Other Service Activities (+8.9%), Professional Scientific and Technical Activities (+3.7%), Administrative and Support Service Activities (+2.3%) and Information and Communication (+1.8%).  Transportation and Storage (-4.3%) and Accommodation and Food Service Activities (-3.9%) were the only sectors to show a decrease in the volume of activity in the month. 

On an annual basis, services were 21.7% higher in volume terms in March 2022 compared with March 2021. All sectors showed an increase in volume. The largest annual increases were in Accommodation and Food Service Activities (+170%), Other Service Activities (+85.5%), Professional Scientific and Technical Activities (+30.1%) and  Information and Communication (+23.9%).

The volume of services in March 2022 was 21.7% higher than March 2020 (two years earlier and the beginning of COVID-19) with a number of sectors showing an increase from March 2020 levels. These included Information and Communication (+38.9%), Accommodation and Food Service Activities (+30.3%), Other Service Activities (+28.1%), Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities (+14.8%), Wholesale and Retail Trade (+5.7%) and Transportation and Storage (+2.8%). Administrative and Support Service Activities (-10.6%) is the only sector showing a decrease in activity since March 2020.

Business SectorsMonth on MonthYear on Year
Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities0.304982.9685
Administrative and Support Service Activities0.109040.6759
Accommodation and Food Service Activities-0.107723.0635
Information and Communication3.8303517.18
Other Service Activities0.293642.3871
Transportation and Storage-0.344541.5591
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles0.271382.3308
Table 1 Seasonally adjusted indices for the non-financial traded services sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
         Total Non-Financial Traded Services
  NACE 45-63, 68-96
Period  Services Value   Services Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
2015 100.0   100.0  
2016 104.5 4.4 104.2 4.2
2017 108.5 3.9 106.5 2.2
2018 117.2 8.0 112.6 5.7
2019 125.2 6.9 118.4 5.2
2020 115.6 -7.7 106.7 -9.9
2021 129.0 11.6 118.3 10.9
         
20201st quarter124.5-0.70.9 116.0-0.9-1.9
 2nd quarter103.2-17.1-17.6 96.2-17.1-19.5
 3rd quarter116.612.9-8.1 106.010.2-10.8
 4th quarter118.01.2-5.9 108.72.5-7.2
         
20211st quarter118.90.8-4.5 112.63.6-2.9
 2nd quarter123.43.819.6 114.41.618.9
 3rd quarter133.88.414.8 120.35.213.5
 4th quarter139.94.618.6 125.94.715.8
         
20221st quarter2147.55.424.1 133.15.718.2
         
2020March120.1-5.5-1.0 114.7-1.1-3.0
 April97.6-18.7-22.1 88.9-22.5-26.3
 May101.74.1-18.8 96.38.3-18.9
 June110.38.5-11.9 103.57.5-13.2
 July113.63.0-10.9 103.1-0.4-12.6
 August115.61.7-8.6 106.12.9-11.3
 September120.54.3-4.7 108.72.5-8.7
 October116.8-3.1-7.2 108.6-0.1-6.9
 November114.3-2.1-9.4 105.0-3.3-11.4
 December122.87.4-0.9 112.57.1-3.1
         
2021January118.2-3.7-6.4 111.7-0.7-4.7
 February119.61.2-5.9 111.4-0.3-4.0
 March118.7-0.8-1.2 114.73.00.0
 April119.70.822.5 109.8-4.323.5
 May122.12.120.1 115.65.320.0
 June128.45.116.4 117.71.813.7
 July130.61.715.0 118.50.714.9
 August133.01.815.1 120.01.313.1
 September137.93.614.4 122.42.012.6
 October138.30.318.4 124.82.014.9
 November141.01.923.3 124.90.119.0
 December140.5-0.314.4 128.12.613.9
         
2022January139.9-0.518.3 126.8-1.013.5
 February148.15.923.8 132.84.719.2
 March2154.54.430.2 139.65.121.7
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents
Table 2 Seasonally adjusted indices by sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
   Wholesale and Retail Trade: Repair of Motors Vehicles and Motorcycles2
  NACE 45-47
Period  Services Value   Services Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
20201st quarter106.10.3-2.0 111.31.0-1.3
 2nd quarter86.5-18.5-18.0 93.2-16.3-16.1
 3rd quarter105.221.6-0.7 111.820.00.4
 4th quarter103.8-1.4-2.0 110.9-0.80.6
         
20211st quarter104.50.8-1.5 111.00.1-0.3
 2nd quarter110.25.427.4 116.95.325.4
 3rd quarter112.01.66.4 116.5-0.34.2
 4th quarter113.21.19.1 115.7-0.74.3
         
20221st quarter3116.42.811.3 117.11.25.5
         
2020March106.00.2-0.4 111.50.20.9
 April78.1-26.3-26.2 83.1-25.5-25.5
 May84.58.3-19.8 90.69.0-17.8
 June97.114.8-8.1 105.816.8-5.1
 July105.08.2-0.7 110.64.5-0.5
 August104.0-1.0-1.8 111.10.5-0.5
 September106.72.60.4 113.72.32.3
 October105.4-1.2-0.3 113.6-0.12.7
 November100.3-4.8-4.9 105.3-7.3-3.6
 December105.55.2-0.7 113.98.22.9
         
2021January99.4-5.8-6.9 104.6-8.2-5.9
 February106.67.30.8 113.28.21.7
 March107.60.91.6 115.11.73.2
 April108.30.638.7 114.2-0.837.4
 May110.72.231.0 117.83.230.0
 June111.70.915.1 118.70.812.2
 July109.7-1.84.5 114.6-3.53.6
 August113.63.69.3 117.82.86.0
 September112.6-0.95.6 117.0-0.72.9
 October112.70.16.9 115.6-1.21.8
 November114.71.714.3 116.71.010.8
 December112.1-2.26.3 114.7-1.70.7
         
2022January114.62.215.3 116.11.211.0
 February116.51.69.2 117.31.03.6
 March3118.01.39.6 117.80.42.3
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 Retail Sales and Motor figures are published in detail in the Retail Sales Index
3 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents
Table 2(a) Seasonally adjusted indices by sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
  Wholesale Trade3
  NACE46
Period  Services Value   Services Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
20201st quarter104.10.7-2.4 106.10.9-2.5
 2nd quarter83.8-19.5-19.3 85.2-19.7-18.9
 3rd quarter97.115.8-8.9 97.714.7-8.6
 4th quarter98.21.2-5.0 100.12.5-4.8
         
20211st quarter102.84.6-1.3 104.94.8-1.1
 2nd quarter104.71.925.0 105.70.824.1
 3rd quarter105.81.09.0 104.8-0.97.3
 4th quarter108.32.410.3 107.22.37.1
         
20221st quarter2112.84.29.8 110.53.15.3
         
2020March106.01.64.0 107.41.24.6
 April81.9-22.7-20.5 83.5-22.3-20.3
 May81.0-1.1-21.9 82.4-1.3-21.4
 June88.59.3-15.4 89.89.0-15.0
 July96.38.8-9.9 96.97.9-9.4
 August95.9-0.4-10.4 96.4-0.5-10.6
 September98.93.1-6.4 99.83.5-5.8
 October98.7-0.2-5.2 99.90.1-5.2
 November98.3-0.4-5.2 100.00.1-4.9
 December97.7-0.7-4.6 100.50.5-4.3
         
2021January100.32.7-1.8 102.31.8-2.5
 February102.32.0-1.9 104.42.1-1.6
 March105.83.5-0.1 108.03.40.6
 April102.8-2.825.5 104.3-3.424.9
 May106.03.130.8 107.63.230.6
 June105.4-0.519.1 105.3-2.117.3
 July103.2-2.17.1 102.3-2.85.6
 August107.13.811.7 106.13.710.1
 September107.0-0.28.1 106.0-0.16.2
 October107.10.18.5 105.6-0.45.7
 November109.22.011.1 108.12.48.1
 December108.7-0.511.3 108.0-0.17.5
         
2022January113.04.012.7 111.02.88.5
 February111.5-1.39.0 109.6-1.35.0
 March2113.92.27.7 111.01.32.8
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents
3 Wholesale Trade is a sub-component of Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles
Table 3 Seasonally adjusted indices by sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
  Accommodation and Food Service Activities
  NACE 55-56
Period  Services Value   Services Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
20201st quarter101.6-14.6-15.8 91.4-14.2-16.1
 2nd quarter31.9-68.6-74.3 29.2-68.1-73.9
 3rd quarter71.3123.8-43.0 64.5120.9-42.7
 4th quarter44.9-37.1-62.3 39.5-38.8-62.9
         
20211st quarter32.3-28.0-68.2 28.4-28.1-68.9
 2nd quarter41.428.029.9 36.327.824.3
 3rd quarter81.396.514.0 70.092.88.5
 4th quarter85.55.290.6 73.24.685.3
         
20221st quarter289.85.0178.0 77.15.3171.5
         
2020March67.3-43.2-44.8 60.3-43.2-44.8
 April28.7-57.4-76.8 25.1-58.4-77.4
 May29.21.9-76.4 27.28.4-75.6
 June37.729.3-69.7 35.430.1-68.6
 July63.267.4-49.4 56.760.2-49.7
 August75.519.4-39.5 69.121.9-38.2
 September75.3-0.2-40.1 67.8-1.9-40.0
 October44.6-40.8-62.3 40.6-40.1-61.7
 November31.1-30.2-73.9 27.4-32.5-74.4
 December58.989.2-50.7 50.584.3-52.7
         
2021January31.3-46.8-73.6 28.2-44.2-73.8
 February32.53.7-72.6 27.9-1.1-73.7
 March33.12.0-50.8 29.14.3-51.7
 April34.64.320.6 28.8-1.014.7
 May31.2-9.67.0 28.3-1.74.0
 June58.386.854.6 51.983.446.6
 July71.121.912.6 61.217.97.9
 August85.320.013.1 73.820.66.8
 September87.52.516.2 75.11.810.8
 October90.63.5103.1 79.35.695.3
 November90.3-0.3190.3 77.3-2.5182.1
 December75.7-16.228.5 63.0-18.524.8
         
2022January77.92.9148.5 71.012.7151.8
 February97.224.8199.2 81.815.2193.2
 March294.5-2.8185.1 78.6-3.9170.1
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents
Table 3 (a) Seasonally adjusted indices by sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
  Accommodation
  NACE 55
Period  Service Value   Service Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
20201st quarter101.6-19.8-22.6 91.4-19.5-23.9
 2nd quarter4.3-95.7-96.7 3.8-95.8-96.8
 3rd quarter37.1754.8-72.2 33.2773.7-72.0
 4th quarter21.0-43.4-83.4 18.9-43.1-83.4
         
20211st quarter7.6-64.0-92.6 6.6-65.1-92.8
 2nd quarter21.8187.8400.7 18.7183.3392.1
 3rd quarter61.6183.265.9 52.4180.257.8
 4th quarter59.0-4.2181.0 50.6-3.4167.7
         
20221st quarter271.120.5841.4 59.217.0797.0
         
2020March52.8-58.2-59.4 46.5-59.1-60.9
 April4.0-92.5-96.9 3.6-92.3-96.9
 May3.8-3.4-97.1 3.4-5.6-97.2
 June5.337.4-96.1 4.532.4-96.2
 July28.1435.6-79.8 25.2460.0-79.3
 August43.153.1-66.9 38.050.8-67.6
 September40.2-6.6-69.5 36.4-4.2-68.6
 October17.9-55.6-85.9 16.4-54.9-85.7
 November10.9-39.0-91.2 9.5-42.1-91.5
 December34.3214.9-73.4 30.8224.2-73.1
         
2021January7.6-77.8-93.9 6.7-78.2-94.1
 February7.70.9-93.9 6.70.0-94.1
 March7.4-4.1-86.0 6.5-3.0-86.0
 April7.3-1.383.8 6.50.080.6
 May8.313.8116.4 7.07.7105.9
 June49.7500.7846.5 42.6508.6846.7
 July61.523.8118.7 52.423.0107.9
 August62.92.346.1 52.80.838.9
 September60.4-4.150.1 51.9-1.742.6
 October61.92.6246.9 53.63.3226.8
 November62.30.7472.5 51.6-3.7443.2
 December52.9-15.254.2 46.6-9.751.3
         
2022January59.813.1684.6 49.35.8635.8
 February76.928.6900.3 64.130.0856.7
 March276.8-0.1941.9 64.10.0886.2
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents
Table 3 (b) Seasonally adjusted indices by sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
  Food and Beverages Service Activities3
  NACE 551, 562
Period  Services Value   Services Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
20201st quarter113.2-6.9-6.4 104.2-7.0-7.5
 2nd quarter68.8-39.2-45.1 62.1-40.4-45.9
 3rd quarter113.565.0-9.0 101.964.1-10.7
 4th quarter77.2-32.0-36.5 70.0-31.3-37.6
         
20211st quarter62.8-18.7-44.6 55.3-21.0-46.9
 2nd quarter68.18.5-1.0 59.37.2-4.5
 3rd quarter101.749.3-10.4 89.550.9-12.2
 4th quarter111.79.844.8 98.810.441.1
         
20221st quarter2114.22.281.9 99.10.379.2
         
2020March90.2-27.2-26.7 80.9-29.3-28.5
 April59.9-33.6-51.9 54.3-32.9-52.5
 May66.811.5-46.4 61.012.3-46.8
 June79.719.3-37.0 70.916.2-38.5
 July105.832.8-14.0 98.438.8-14.0
 August115.59.1-8.0 102.13.8-11.8
 September119.23.2-5.0 105.23.0-6.2
 October79.8-33.1-34.4 71.8-31.7-35.3
 November60.1-24.6-51.1 52.3-27.2-53.4
 December91.652.3-23.7 86.064.4-24.0
         
2021January58.4-36.2-53.5 53.0-38.4-54.8
 February62.97.7-49.2 55.14.0-51.9
 March66.96.3-25.8 57.95.1-28.4
 April67.61.012.8 58.61.27.9
 May67.70.11.2 59.10.9-3.1
 June69.12.2-13.3 60.32.0-15.0
 July88.127.4-16.8 81.935.8-16.8
 August107.822.4-6.6 92.312.7-9.6
 September109.31.3-8.4 94.32.2-10.4
 October113.03.441.7 97.33.235.5
 November115.22.091.6 99.42.290.1
 December107.0-7.116.8 99.60.215.8
         
2022January100.4-6.171.9 89.7-9.969.2
 February121.020.592.3 104.015.988.7
 March2121.10.180.9 103.6-0.478.9
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents
3NACE 563 which relates to Bars is excluded from this subcategory and is published separately in the Retail Sales Index. The overall index for Accommodation and Food Service Activities includes Bars
Table 4 Seasonally adjusted indices by sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
  Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities
  NACE 69-75
Period  Services Value   Services Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
20201st quarter96.2-3.0-10.1 86.7-2.5-13.7
 2nd quarter83.4-13.3-17.6 76.8-11.4-19.2
 3rd quarter94.913.7-5.4 84.910.5-6.9
 4th quarter101.26.62.1 90.56.61.8
         
20211st quarter92.7-8.4-3.6 83.9-7.3-3.2
 2nd quarter89.4-3.67.1 82.2-2.07.0
 3rd quarter104.517.010.2 92.812.99.3
 4th quarter102.1-2.30.9 90.5-2.50.0
         
20221st quarter2103.91.712.0 92.52.210.3
         
2020March92.5-3.9-14.8 83.6-4.3-18.0
 April81.9-11.5-18.2 76.8-8.1-20.0
 May76.0-7.2-22.6 69.8-9.1-24.0
 June92.521.7-12.3 83.920.2-13.8
 July90.2-2.4-13.6 80.1-4.5-15.0
 August93.94.1-4.9 84.35.2-6.3
 September100.67.22.8 90.27.01.0
 October92.9-7.7-5.7 83.5-7.4-6.2
 November94.31.5-16.3 84.10.7-16.7
 December116.523.634.9 103.823.435.0
         
2021January99.5-14.6-0.3 89.3-14.00.2
 February97.4-2.11.1 88.5-0.91.3
 March81.3-16.5-12.1 73.8-16.6-11.7
 April82.51.50.8 77.44.90.8
 May91.711.220.7 84.38.920.8
 June93.92.41.5 84.90.71.2
 July103.810.615.1 92.18.515.0
 August102.6-1.29.3 91.4-0.88.4
 September107.24.66.6 95.03.95.3
 October104.9-2.213.0 93.8-1.312.3
 November102.4-2.48.6 90.5-3.57.6
 December99.1-3.2-14.9 87.3-3.5-15.9
         
2022January100.51.31.0 89.01.9-0.3
 February103.93.46.7 92.64.04.6
 March2107.23.231.9 96.03.730.1
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents
Table 5 Seasonally adjusted indices by sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
  Administrative and Support Service Activities2
  NACE 77-82
Period  Services Value   Services Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
20201st quarter93.2-6.4-4.5 82.7-7.2-10.6
 2nd quarter74.1-20.5-28.3 63.6-23.1-32.2
 3rd quarter73.3-1.1-26.8 63.1-0.8-29.8
 4th quarter76.64.4-23.1 66.14.8-25.8
         
20211st quarter72.2-5.7-22.5 64.1-3.0-22.5
 2nd quarter72.70.6-2.0 61.7-3.7-3.0
 3rd quarter75.13.32.4 63.32.60.3
 4th quarter78.64.62.6 65.94.1-0.3
         
20221st quarter382.44.814.1 70.57.010.0
         
2020March90.9-3.5-6.2 80.8-2.2-12.6
 April77.6-14.6-31.0 65.7-18.7-35.1
 May71.9-7.4-28.3 62.4-5.0-30.3
 June72.91.4-25.0 62.70.5-30.8
 July74.52.2-27.0 63.71.6-29.8
 August73.0-1.9-25.3 63.4-0.5-27.0
 September72.5-0.8-28.0 62.3-1.7-32.3
 October79.69.8-30.5 66.77.1-32.5
 November75.2-5.5-19.0 65.6-1.6-22.3
 December75.0-0.2-18.0 66.10.8-21.4
         
2021January72.5-3.4-23.3 64.8-2.0-23.4
 February71.7-1.1-23.9 64.0-1.2-22.5
 March72.41.0-20.3 63.5-0.8-21.4
 April70.3-2.9-9.4 58.8-7.4-10.5
 May72.43.00.8 62.56.30.2
 June75.23.83.2 63.92.21.9
 July72.5-3.6-2.7 62.0-3.0-2.7
 August76.45.54.7 64.23.51.3
 September76.4-0.15.4 63.8-0.62.4
 October77.41.4-2.7 63.90.2-4.2
 November83.57.811.1 69.99.46.6
 December74.8-10.5-0.3 63.8-8.7-3.5
         
2022January79.96.910.3 68.77.76.0
 February82.33.014.8 70.62.810.3
 March384.83.017.1 72.22.313.7
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 NACE 7735 is excluded
3 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents
Table 6 Seasonally adjusted indices by sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
  Transportation and Storage
  NACE 49-53
Period  Services Value   Services Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
20201st quarter110.8-5.8-4.8 95.3-5.7-7.9
 2nd quarter65.3-41.0-45.1 58.4-38.7-45.6
 3rd quarter75.515.6-37.3 67.715.9-36.7
 4th quarter86.314.3-26.6 74.39.7-26.5
         
20211st quarter85.1-1.3-23.1 75.31.3-21.0
 2nd quarter80.0-6.022.6 71.5-5.022.4
 3rd quarter89.511.818.5 74.54.210.0
 4th quarter102.714.819.1 79.77.07.3
         
20221st quarter2107.04.125.7 84.15.511.7
         
2020March92.4-22.7-21.9 79.7-22.4-24.2
 April63.8-31.0-50.1 56.3-29.4-51.0
 May65.22.3-45.5 57.92.8-46.2
 June66.92.6-38.9 60.95.2-38.7
 July72.17.7-39.5 65.88.0-39.2
 August70.0-2.9-42.0 63.5-3.5-41.0
 September84.520.7-30.4 73.916.4-29.6
 October79.2-6.2-35.6 68.9-6.8-35.5
 November88.511.7-21.6 76.210.6-21.8
 December91.13.0-22.0 77.82.1-21.4
         
2021January82.4-9.6-31.5 72.7-6.6-29.8
 February85.74.0-28.3 76.14.7-25.9
 March87.31.9-5.5 77.11.3-3.3
 April81.0-7.227.0 72.7-5.729.1
 May80.5-0.723.4 71.7-1.423.8
 June78.6-2.317.5 70.1-2.215.1
 July82.34.614.2 71.11.48.1
 August89.18.327.4 74.75.117.6
 September97.08.814.8 77.74.05.1
 October102.86.029.7 80.94.117.4
 November107.34.521.3 83.22.89.2
 December98.1-8.67.7 75.1-9.7-3.5
         
2022January107.49.530.3 84.712.816.5
 February109.21.627.3 85.61.112.5
 March2104.4-4.319.6 81.9-4.36.2
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents
Table 7 Seasonally adjusted indices by sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
  Information and Communication
  NACE 58-63
Period  Services Value   Services Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
20201st quarter170.54.411.1 151.51.76.5
 2nd quarter167.1-2.04.0 149.6-1.3-2.2
 3rd quarter172.63.34.5 153.62.7-1.3
 4th quarter176.52.28.1 154.50.63.7
         
20211st quarter189.37.211.0 168.38.911.1
 2nd quarter198.44.818.7 176.24.717.8
 3rd quarter209.15.421.1 185.85.421.0
 4th quarter220.15.224.7 195.65.326.6
         
20221st quarter2237.27.825.3 203.33.920.8
         
2020March175.33.019.3 155.34.111.6
 April158.0-9.90.1 141.3-9.0-6.4
 May168.36.54.2 151.37.1-2.1
 June175.04.07.8 156.13.21.9
 July168.4-3.81.4 151.8-2.8-2.3
 August172.12.24.3 155.42.4-2.0
 September177.43.07.9 153.7-1.10.3
 October175.9-0.89.4 156.72.07.9
 November175.2-0.47.3 152.7-2.60.9
 December178.31.87.7 154.21.02.5
         
2021January189.56.314.2 164.06.49.4
 February187.7-1.010.3 166.71.611.7
 March190.61.68.7 174.14.412.1
 April194.21.922.9 171.2-1.721.2
 May195.60.716.2 173.61.414.7
 June205.35.017.3 183.85.917.7
 July206.10.422.4 182.7-0.620.4
 August206.00.019.7 183.20.317.9
 September215.24.521.3 191.44.524.5
 October214.2-0.521.8 192.30.522.7
 November217.01.323.8 185.9-3.321.7
 December229.05.528.4 208.512.235.2
         
2022January218.5-4.615.3 182.3-12.611.2
 February237.58.726.5 211.916.227.1
 March2255.67.634.1 215.71.823.9
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents
Table 8 Seasonally adjusted indices by sector1
Base Year: 2015=100
         
  Other Service Activities
  NACE 68, 92-93, 95-96
Period  Service Value   Services Volume 
  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change  Index % change on previous periodAnnual % change
         
20201st quarter108.3-10.2-3.0 90.6-9.9-5.9
 2nd quarter50.1-53.8-57.7 41.6-54.1-58.1
 3rd quarter83.266.2-30.4 68.564.7-31.4
 4th quarter81.3-2.3-32.6 67.1-2.0-33.2
         
20211st quarter61.4-24.6-43.4 51.0-24.0-43.7
 2nd quarter73.219.446.3 59.216.142.3
 3rd quarter92.826.711.5 74.325.58.5
 4th quarter107.315.731.9 84.613.926.1
         
20221st quarter2110.12.679.4 87.02.870.6
         
2020March84.4-31.5-23.8 70.8-31.1-25.7
 April48.3-42.8-55.8 40.3-43.1-56.0
 May49.42.4-60.1 40.91.5-60.6
 June52.56.2-56.8 43.66.6-57.3
 July80.152.6-32.9 65.850.9-34.1
 August83.23.9-30.5 68.54.1-31.6
 September86.43.8-27.7 71.13.8-28.6
 October86.30.0-26.8 71.20.1-27.6
 November67.2-22.1-44.6 55.0-22.8-45.4
 December90.534.6-26.2 75.036.4-26.8
         
2021January63.2-30.2-46.2 52.3-30.3-46.8
 February62.3-1.4-49.5 51.7-1.1-49.7
 March58.6-5.8-30.6 48.9-5.4-30.9
 April62.87.129.9 51.65.528.0
 May67.88.137.2 54.45.433.0
 June89.131.369.7 71.631.664.2
 July92.53.815.5 74.54.113.2
 August86.6-6.44.1 69.6-6.61.6
 September99.114.514.8 78.713.110.7
 October101.42.217.4 80.32.012.8
 November116.314.773.0 90.913.265.3
 December104.2-10.415.2 82.6-9.110.1
         
2022January110.15.774.3 87.05.366.3
 February105.8-3.969.9 83.3-4.361.1
 March2114.38.195.0 90.78.985.5
1 Based on Seasonal Patterns up to March 2022
2 Provisional Value Indices based on early returns from respondents

Background Notes

The Monthly Services Index (MSI) monitors short term trends in output of enterprises in the non-financial traded services sector. From January 2022, output is measured in current prices (turnover) and in constant prices (volume index) for each sector, where the value of turnover is deflated by price changes within each sector.

Sample covered

The sample size is approximately 2,250 enterprises. The sample comprises a census of all enterprises with an annual turnover value of more than €20m or enterprises with more than 100 persons engaged. The remainder of the target population is stratified using 2-digit Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, i.e. NACE Rev. 2 classifications. Each of these 2-digit NACE sectors are further subdivided into strata based on turnover. A simple random sample is then drawn from each stratum. Retail and Motor Trade figures are taken from the separate Retail Sales Index sample of approximately 1,600 enterprises.

The response rates for the provisional results are typically 46% in terms of the enterprises surveyed which represents 75% of the value of total turnover. The corresponding figures for the final results are 55% and 83% respectively. These response rates are based on averages for the 6 month period ending December 2018.

Methodology

The business activity classifications used in this statistical release are based on the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community i.e. NACE Rev. 2.

The index system is structured on the non-financial traded services sector covered in the 2015 Annual Services Inquiry (ASI). This non-financial traded services sector is further broken down as follows: 

Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles (NACE 45-47)

  • Wholesale Trade (NACE 46) 
  • Motors (NACE 45) and Retail Trade (NACE 47) are published separately in the Retail Sales release

 Transportation and Storage (NACE 49-53)

Accommodation and Food Service Activities (NACE 55, 56)

  • Accommodation (NACE 55) 
  • Food and Beverage Service Activities (NACE 561, 562)  
  • NACE 563 which relates to Bars is excluded from Food and Beverage Service Activities and is published separately in the Retail Sales Index. The overall index for Accommodation and Food Service Activities includes Bars

Information and Communication (NACE 58-63)

Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities (NACE 69-75)

Administrative and Support Service Activities (NACE 77-82)

  • NACE 7735 – Aircraft leasing is excluded

Other Service Activities (NACE 68, 92-93, 95-96)

  • NACE 68 Real estate activities
  • NACE 92 Gambling and betting activities
  • NACE 93 Sports activities and amusements and recreation activities
  • NACE 95 Repair of computers and personal and household goods
  • NACE 96 Other personal service activities

To compile the MSI, each of the above published NACE sectors is separated into three distinct cell sizes based on the constituent enterprises’ reported gross value added (GVA) for 2015. Using data taken from the 2015 ASI, GVA baseweights are then calculated for each of these cells and the baseweights are updated each month using a matched sample approach.  

An enterprise’s monthly GVA value is calculated as follows: respondents report their monthly turnover figures which are transformed into estimated GVA figures by applying a firm specific factor based on an individual respondent’s 2015 ASI return.  The factor is calculated for each firm by simply dividing their estimated GVA by reported turnover.  If an enterprise was not on the ASI sample then the relevant cell mean GVA/turnover ratio, calculated from the 2015 ASI, is applied. The reason for this methodology is to reduce the disproportionate impact that some enterprises (which report large turnover figures but have a relatively small GVA) can have on the overall series.

Calculations

Monthly and annual percentage changes are calculated before rounding. All indices presented in the tables are rounded to one decimal place.

Seasonal Adjustment

Seasonal adjustment for each of the sectors is conducted using a direct seasonal adjustment approach. However, the overall MSI is estimated using the indirect approach, i.e. the MSI is derived by adding the weighted seasonally adjusted sub-components. The main reason for adopting the indirect approach for the MSI is to attribute the monthly and annual changes in the MSI to each of its sub-components. Seasonal adjustment models are developed for each series based on unadjusted data spanning from January 2009 to the current period. These models are reviewed on an annual basis; however seasonal factors are updated each month. Following an annual review of seasonal adjustment models in May 2021, all sub-indices were found to display seasonal factors.

The seasonal adjustment of the MSI is conducted using the X-13ARIMA-SEATS software produced, distributed and maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau. The seasonal estimates take into account other factors that may impact on the quality of the seasonal adjustment, i.e. outliers, temporary changes and level shifts.

For additional information on the use of X-13ARIMA-SEATS see (Findley, D.F., B.C. Monsell, W.R. Bell, M.C. Otto, and B. Chen (1998), “New Capabilities and Methods of the X-12-Arima Seasonal Adjustment Program”, Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, 16, pp. 127-177.) and Win X-13

Rebase 2015

The rebasing of the series is in line with EU recommendations to update the base reference periods at regular five-year intervals. This new series replaces the existing series to base year 2010 as 100.

The difference in the new rebased MSI series is the use of new cell and sector baseweights taken from the ASI 2015. The existing cell structure/breakdown was maintained in this series. For each sector, enterprises are placed in a particular cell based on the following criteria and each sector is then weighted to compile the overall index:

  • Cell 3 If annual GVA is greater than €80,000,000
  • Cell 2 If annual GVA is between €2,500,000 and €80,000,000
  • Cell 1 If annual GVA is less than €2,500,000

The new baseweights are updated each month using changes to respondents’ monthly estimated GVA.

upArrowHide Background Notes

Scan the QR code below to view this release online or go to
http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/si/monthlyservicesindexmarch2022/