Turkey’s manufacturing activity rises to 13-month high: Index

Data from Greece shows that manufacturing is growing in the country for the first time in 12 months – its manufacturing PMI was 50.2, its highest value in 19 months.

It has held onto its 50 mark that is the separation point between contraction and growth, for over the past 2 years.

The manufacturing sector’s performance declined at a slower pace in December according to the latest Nikkei Malaysia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), a composite single-figure indicator of manufacturing performance.

Eurozone private sector growth accelerated more than initially thought in December as firms took on staff at the fastest pace in nearly half a decade, a survey showed on Wednesday.

The reading was the lowest since September, remaining well under the 50-point level which demarcates contraction from expansion on a monthly basis.

The Caixin-sponsored report is based on a private survey of purchasing executives in more than 420 small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies. “Despite the improvement, the survey data signal a modest 0.4 per cent increase in gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter, which would mean the eurozone grew 1.5 per cent in 2015”, he said.

After picking up for the first time in seven months in November, the Caixin PMI output sub-index dropped to 48.7 in December, its lowest in three months.

“Whereas manufacturers linked the slump to the Chennai floods, growth of new orders and output had been on a downward trend in recent months”, De Lima said. Export sales were also close to stagnation in December, with manufacturers noting that the strong dollar continued to act as a drag on demand from overseas. Which further reinforces the notion that China is slowly transitioning from a manufacturing economy to a service economy. Deflationary pressures persisted, meanwhile, as highlighted by decreased input costs and lower raw material prices.

The Markit/CIPS UK manufacturing PMI declined to 51.9 last month, down from 52.5 in November and 55.5 in October.

“Companies only passed on part of their higher cost burdens, however, and raised their selling prices marginally”, said the report.