Eurozone downturn eases in June, output falls at slower rate

Eurozone business activity logged the smallest downturn since March last year, flash survey data from Markit Economics showed Thursday.

The composite output index improved to 48.9 in June from 47.7 in May. The reading also exceeded consensus forecast of 48.1. Nonetheless, the sub-50 reading nevertheless rounded off another weak quarter.

The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index climbed to 48.7, a 16-month high, from 48.3 a month ago. It was also higher than the expected 48.6.

Similarly, the services PMI came in at 48.6 compared to 47.2 in May. The reading reached a 15-month high and exceeded the expected reading of 47.5.

Data showed that manufacturing output fell in June at the slowest rate in the current 16-month sequence, registering only a very modest decline, and services business activity showed the joint-weakest fall since March 2012.

"The survey data suggest that GDP is likely to have shrunk by 0.2 percent in the second quarter, similar to the fall seen in the first three months of the year and extending the region's recession into a record seventh successive quarter," Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit said.