LONDON - Overall business activity in the euro zone expanded at its fastest pace in nearly a year this month as a buoyant recovery in the bloc's dominant service industry more than offset a deeper downturn in manufacturing, a survey found.
"The euro zone got off to a good start in the second quarter. The Composite HCOB Flash PMI took a significant step into expansionary territory. This was propelled by the services sector, where activity has gathered further steam," said Cyrus de la Rubia, Chief Economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank. But the manufacturing PMI dropped to 45.6 from 46.1, confounding expectations in a Reuters poll for a lift to 46.6. It has been below 50 since mid-2022.Indexes measuring demand also highlighted the division between the two sectors. The services new business index rose to an 11-month high of 52.1 but the manufacturing new orders reading fell to a four-month low of 43.8 from 46.0.