The eurozone economy started the fourth quarter with a further month of contraction, latest HCOB PMI® survey data compiled by S&P Global showed, extending the current period of decline seen so far in the second half of 2023. In fact, the rate of decrease in business activity accelerated since September and was the strongest since November 2020. Fragile demand conditions also remained a notable feature of the survey results, with overall new business intakes falling at the quickest rate since September 2012, during the sovereign debt crisis, when pandemic-affected months are excluded. A darkened economic outlook was ... (full story)