Ireland’s services sector grew at a slightly faster rate in September although it remained short of July’s nine year high.

The Investec Purchasing Managers’ Index of activity in services, which covers businesses from banks to hotels, climed to 62.4 from 62.1 in August but remained below July’s 63.4.

Over three years the index has stayed above the 50 point line separating growth from contraction.

In a sign of growing buoyancy in the economy, the sub-index monitoring prices charged by services climed from 52.2 to 55.2, while input prices rose on higher wages.

The manufacturing index climed from 55.1 to 55.3.