The eurozone economy grew at its fastest rate in six months during February, - IHS Markit

According to the report from IHS Markit, the eurozone economy grew at its fastest rate in six months during February. Although remaining weak, the rate of expansion accelerated for a third straight month despite signs of demand being dampened and production being stymied by the coronavirus outbreak.

At 51.6 in February, the 'flash' IHS Markit Eurozone Composite PMI rose from 51.3 in January to indicate the largest monthly increase in business activity since last August. Growth was centered on the services sector, where business grew at the joint-fastest rate seen over the past six months. Manufacturing meanwhile remained in decline, although the rate of contraction in output eased to the mildest seen over the past eight months. The overall rate of expansion remained only modest, however, largely due to subdued new business growth. New orders rose at a rate equal to January's seven-month high, yet the rise was insufficient to prevent backlogs of work continuing to decline slightly, hinting at persistent excess capacity. Inflows of new business into the service sector grew at a fractionally weaker rate than seen in the prior two months, the slowdown in part linked to travel, tourism and some areas of business reportedly being disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. New orders placed at manufacturers meanwhile fell for a seventeenth successive month. More encouragingly, the overall drop in factory orders was the smallest for 15 months as firming demand from domestic customers helped offset a stronger decline in export orders.

The flash February PMI data also showed inflationary pressures cooling slightly. Finally, expectations of output growth over the coming year dipped from January's 16-month high, though remained well above the average seen in 2019 and up markedly from the low plumbed last August. Sentiment softened in both services and manufacturing.