The euro area economy moved closer to stabilisation in February. Although total output volumes fell for a ninth successive month, the contraction was marginal and the slowest since the middle of last year. Notably, service providers recorded a fractional improvement in business activity, which was offset by a further solid reduction in factory production. The downturn in demand, which has been a primary factor for the eurozone’s economic decline since mid-2023, also cooled for a fourth month running, helping to spur growth expectations to their highest in nearly a year and re-invigorated job creation. However, amid ... (full story)