Eurozone PMI manufacturing rose to 47.8, up from 47.5 but missed expectation of 48.1. PMI services dropped to 52.5, down from 53.3 and missed expectation of 53.1. PMI composite dropped to 51.3, down from 51.6, and hit a 3-month low.
Commenting on the flash PMI data, Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit said:
“The eurozone economy started the second quarter on a disappointing footing, with the flash PMI falling to one of the lowest levels seen since 2014. The data add to worries that the economy has failed to rebound with any conviction from one-off factors that dampened activity late last year, and continues to show only very modest growth in the face of headwinds from slower global demand growth and subdued economic sentiment.
“The surveys indicate that quarterly eurozone GDP growth has slowed to just under 0.2%. A similar 0.2% rate of expansion is being signalled for Germany but France stagnated and the rest of the region has moved closer to stalling.
“Manufacturing remained the key area of concern, with output continuing to contract at one of the fastest rates seen over the past six years. Forward -looking indicators showed some signs of improvement but remain deeply in negative territory to suggest the factory malaise has further to run.
“The slowdown also showed further signs of engulfing the service sector, where growth cooled again to one of the weakest rates seen since 2016. Some encouragement can be gleaned from an improvement in employment growth, although even here the pace of hiring is among the lowest seen for two-and-a-half years.
“The persistence of the business survey weakness raises questions over the economy’s ability to grow by more than 1% in 2019.”
