-
Global economy starts 2020 on ten-month high, awaiting coronavirus impact
Worldwide growth accelerated for a third consecutive month in January, according to the latest PMI surveys, registering the strongest monthly increase in output since last March. The JPMorgan Global PMI™ (compiled by IHS Markit) rose from 51.6 in December to 52.2, marking a further recovery from last October's low, when the PMI had slumped to its lowest since February 2016. Despite reaching a ten-month high, the latest reading is still modest by historical standards, comparable with global GDP rising at an annual rate of just over 2.5% (at market prices). The rise nevertheless hints that the global slowdown ... (full story)