Mike Rohan

April data indicated that Irish manufacturers faced challenges from sharply rising input prices as a result of the Middle East war. Moreover, suppliers’ delivery times lengthened to the greatest extent for three and-a-half years, according to AIB Ireland Manufacturing PMI® for April 2026. Production volumes nonetheless expanded for the sixth consecutive month and new orders increased at the fastest pace since April 2025, helped by a strong rise in export sales.

Lidl GB has revealed hundreds of target locations across Great Britain where it is seeking sites for new stores. From Garthdee in Aberdeen and Aldgate in London to Ystradgynlais in Wales and Windsor in Berkshire, the latest list of locations are all detailed in the supermarket’s latest Site Requirements Brochure. Lidl is actively seeking freehold, leasehold, or long-leasehold sites in prominent locations with strong footfall and easy accessibility.

New analysis from FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics for National Productivity Week shows the UK manufacturing sector has achieved sustained growth in output and productivity over the past five years, despite a smaller workforce and historically high levels of inflation. FourJaw’s analysis of the world’s largest manufacturing economies found that UK output in 2025 was 6% above 2020 levels, after accounting for inflation.