French private sector activity contracted at the sharpest rate in nearly 22 years of data collection during March, amid widespread business closures due to the coronavirus outbreak. At the sub-sector level, the reduction was broadbased, but faster at service providers who recorded their quickest decline since data collection began in May 1998. While softer than their services counterparts, manufacturers also registered a sharp decrease in activity and the strongest since March 2009. Amid wide-ranging measures to stifle the spread of the disease, the Covid-19 outbreak depressed demand in March. Overall new orders ... (full story)