A further fall in service sector business activity in December was accompanied by an uptick in price pressures, according to the latest HCOB PMI® survey, compiled by S&P Global. Labour market conditions meanwhile weakened as services firms trimmed workforce numbers in line with falling demand and amidst sharply rising wages. Looking ahead, growth projections for the next 12 months remained muted, with a combination of political and economic uncertainty reportedly weighing on expectations. The HCOB Germany Services PMI® Business Activity Index came in below the 50.0 no-change threshold for the fourth time in the past ... (full story)