German private sector business activity continued to rise in August, extending the current period of expansion to four months. This was highlighted by the seasonally adjusted Markit Flash Germany Composite Output Index posting 53.4 in August, up from 52.1 in the previous month and above the 50.0 mark that separates expansion from contraction. The latest rea ding signalled a solid increase in overall business activity, with the pace of growth reaching its strongest since January. Sector data pointed to higher levels of output in both manufacturing and services , with the former posting the faster pace of growth in ... (full story)