Euro area business growth close to stalling

January 24, 2019 Share Print 0

Key Findings:

Flash Eurozone PMI Composite Output Index(1) at 50.7 (51.1 in December). 66-month low.

Flash Eurozone Services PMI Activity Index(2) at 50.8 (51.2 in December). 65-month low.

Flash Eurozone Manufacturing PMI Output 45 Index(4) at 50.4 (51.0 in December). 67-month 40 low.

Flash Eurozone Manufacturing PMI (51.4 in December). 50-month low.

The euro area economy edged closer to stagnation at the start of 2019, with businesses reporting the weakest rise in output for five-and-a-half years and the first fall in demand for over four years.

The IHS Markit Eurozone Composite PMI® fell to 50.7 in January from 51.1 in December, its lowest since July 2013, according to the preliminary ‘flash’ reading. The flash estimate is typically based on approximately 85% of the final number of replies received each month. The latest reading indicated only marginal growth of business output, contrasting markedly with the strong rates of expansion seen this time last year.

Both manufacturing and services saw growth slow closer to stagnation. The factory sector reported the weakest expansion since the current production upturn began in July 2013, while the service sector expansion was the smallest since August 2013. Inflows of new work fell compared to December, registering the first such decline since November 2014 and signalling the largest drop in demand for goods and services since June 2013.

New orders for goods fell for a fourth successive month, declining at a rate not seen since April 2013, while inflows of new business in the service sector slipped into decline for the first time since July 2013.

Deteriorating exports contributed to the disappointing order book picture. Exports fell for a fourth successive month, dropping at the steepest rate since comparable data for combined manufacturing and services exports were first available just over four years ago. Services saw exports decline at an increased rate.

Outstanding work decreased for the second consecutive month, worsening at the sharpest pace since December 2014. Falling backlogs were commonly caused by companies having to eat into back-orders in order to support current output growth amid reduced inflows of new business.

The decline in order books was a key factor behind a reduction in the pace of overall job creation to the lowest since September 2016. Jobs growth has now cooled for five months in a row. Employment growth waned in both sectors, though services saw an especially marked slowdown.

Dean Popplewell

Vice-President of Market Analysis at MarketPulse

Dean Popplewell has nearly two decades of experience trading currencies and fixed income instruments.
He has a deep understanding of market fundamentals and the impact of global events on capital markets.
He is respected among professional traders for his skilled analysis and career history as global head
of trading for firms such as Scotia Capital and BMO Nesbitt Burns. Since joining OANDA in 2006, Dean
has played an instrumental role in driving awareness of the forex market as an emerging asset class
for retail investors, as well as providing expert counsel to a number of internal teams on how to best
serve clients and industry stakeholders.