PMI: Europæisk økonomi vender positiv

PMI for Euroland fra Markit

Growth of business activity in the euro area economy accelerated to its fastest for five months in January. The Markit Eurozone PMI® Composite Output Index rose from 51.4 in December to 52.2, according to the ‘flash’ estimate, which is based on around 85% of total survey replies. The survey has now recorded an increase in the rate of economic expansion for two successive months, albeit with the rate of growth remaining only modest after having slowed to near-stagnation late last year (the latest reading remained below last year’s average of 52.7). New orders also grew at the sharpest rate for five months as demand picked up at the start of the year, representing a further turnaround from the marginal decline seen back in November. Backlogs of work meanwhile continued to fall in January, but the decline was only marginal and the smallest since last August. With outstanding business showing signs of stabilising rather than being depleted, and new orders rising, firms grew more confident in taking on extra staff. Employment growth picked up slightly to show the largest monthly rise since last July as a result, though the rate of job creation remained disappointingly weak overall