There is overwhelming evidence that the economy has lost competitiveness, it was warned today.
Ahead of delivering its pre-Budget submission to Government, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec) said there were concerns that growth in the economy was unbalanced.
The employers' group said the weaker contribution from the exposed manufacturing sector despite the relative buoyancy of the global economy was evidence of lost competitiveness.
It also said productivity was stagnant and in some sectors it was declining.