BRUSSELS – For the 17th month running, Eurozone manufacturing activity contracted in December, a key survey of business managers showed on Wednesday.
The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector, a leading indicator compiled by the Markit research firm, came in at 46.1 points in November, down from an earlier estimate of 46.3 points and down from November's 46.2 points.
Ireland, as has frequently been the case in recent months, posted a score of 51.4 points, indicating growth.
But Germany (46.0 points), France (44.6) and Italy (46.7) were all signaling contraction.
While manufacturing activity "may have suffered its worst contraction around October," said London-based IHS Global Insight analyst, "the December purchasing managers' surveys indicate that the sector is still stranded well into recessionary territory."
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2013
