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German business activity growth eases to four-year low in December
Germany’s private sector remained stuck in a low growth phase in the closing month of 2018, with December’s ‘flash’ PMI® data from IHS Markit showing the slowest rise of business activity for four years. The survey’s forward-looking indicators also deteriorated, signalling a near-stalling of order books and a further softening of business confidence towards the outlook. A further solid round of job creation was one of few positive takeaways from the survey, alongside subsiding cost pressures. The IHS Markit Flash Germany Composite Output Index registered 52.2 in December. Though down only fractionally from ... (full story)