The Northern Irish manufacturing industry is continuing to struggle, with output, new orders and employment numbers all showing a decline, according to a survey done on behalf of Ulster Bank.

In its monthly Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), the report said that this sector is currently experiencing more difficult conditions than the rest of Great Britain.

Despite this, the Northern Irish service sector is performing above the average of its UK counterpart.

These mixed reports have actually seen the private sector in Northern Ireland manage to maintain a tentative but positive start to the year, reports the BBC.

Supporting this, it has been reported that new orders have increased to hit their fastest rate in over half a year.

Richard Ramsey, Ulster Bank's chief economist, said: "It should be remembered that whilst Northern Ireland is enjoying stronger rates of growth than the UK as a whole, this is from a lower base."

He added that the north of the country is "playing catch-up" in the manufacturing sector and that recovery has been slow.