Euro zone business growth unexpectedly gains pace, prices still falling -PMI
reuters.com – 23/10/14
Euro zone businesses performed much better than anyone expected this month but did so by slashing prices again, and optimism about the future fell to its lowest level in over a year, surveys showed on Thursday. The growth data will provide some relief for the European Central Bank but news that firms cut prices for the 31st month, at the steepest rate in almost five years, will stoke fears of deflation in the region.
Markit’s Composite Flash Purchasing Managers’ Index, based on surveys of thousands of companies across the region and seen as a good indicator of growth, rose to 52.2, above all forecasts in a Reuters poll. The poll had predicted a fall to 51.7 from September’s headline reading of 52.0 and October marks the 16th month the index has been above the 50 level that separates growth from contraction.
“The overall headline number has risen but there are signs that it is going to start deteriorating again. Most worrying is the decline in new orders,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at data collator Markit.
