Businesses in Ireland are fighting back against the recession.

That’s one of the messages being sent by the sharp rise in the purchase of new commercial vehicles, as well as the purchase of almost 60,000 new cars in the first half of 2014. This growth of purchases demonstrates a 43.5% increase compared to this same period last year.

Here’s the breakdown from the Central Statistics Office:

• 58,890 new private cars purchased in first 5 months of 2014
• 7,767 new private cars bought in May
• 1,574 new goods vehicles bought in May
• 23,099 used cars imported
• 3,812 second-hand goods vehicles imported

Alan Nolan, director general of the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), previously said that consumers now appear to be in a better financial position to re-enter the new car market.

And he hopes to see this translated in summer sales figures.

“June is likely to be a quiet month with July being a crucial period for the motor industry,” he said.

“The second year of the new number plate, new car enquiries in dealerships are very strong at the moment and should translate into a busy July.”