Conditions in the Irish services sector are continuing to improve with a growing number of firms indicating that they will be recruiting to cope with rising demand.
The latest purchasing managers' index for the services sectors clocked in at 58.8, well above the no-change mark of 50.0, and signalled a seventh successive month of expansion.
Mr Dermot O'Brien, NCB's chief economist, said: "The services sector ended 2003 on a high note with activity recording its seventh successive month of expansion , employment up for the fourth month in a row and business confidence at its highest level in 20 months."
Optimism remained widespread in December, as firms indicated their confidence in a sustained economic recovery in 2004.
The positive sentiment came as firms indicated a general belief that rising volumes of new business and improved client sentiment world drive activity growth in the year ahead.