Tag Archives: euro area business activity

Surveys that show activity remains buoyant in the euro area mean growth and inflation could be higher than forecast, thus complicating the ECB’s task.Flash purchasing managers’ indices (PMI) for November, compiled by Markit, delivered upside surprises across most countries and sectors in the euro area.Business confidence remained very strong in Germany, and improved markedly in France and peripheral countries. The euro area composite PMI rose to 54.1, pointing to real quarter-over-quarter...

Macroview September Flash PMIs were a mixed bag, but a closer look provides grounds for optimism. Markit’s euro area flash PMI indices for September were mixed, with France outperforming but business confidence declining in the German services sector as well as in the rest of the currency union. However, details of the PMI readings were generally better than the headlines. New orders rose in September and labour market dynamics remained supportive. Perhaps the best news from the Markit PMIs...