Eurozone flash PMIs worse than expected
The Eurozone was slightly late to the post-COVID economic re-opening party in Q2 due to the slow implementation of its vaccination program. After feeling the benefit of momentum over recent months, August’s PMIs showed signs of rolling over. Now we have the decisive suggestion that in September the momentum decelerated further.
The September Eurozone flash PMIs have fallen decisively back and, according to IHS Markit reflect a “marked slowdown in growth in the region as demand showed further signs of having peaked”.
The data for September also fell more than the consensus estimates:
- Eurozone flash Manufacturing PMI fell to 58.7 (from 61.4 in August, 60.3 expected)
- Eurozone flash Services PMI fell to 56.3 (from 59.0 in August, 58.5 expected)
- Eurozone flash Composite PMI fell to 56.1 (from 59.0 in August, 58.5 expected)
According to IHS Markit data, it was slowdowns in Germany and France (the two largest economies of the Eurozone) that markedly dragged down the regional data.
There were also signs of steeply rising input costs, which rose at the fastest pace in 21 years amidst supply constraints.
What does this mean?
This has marginally negative implications for Eurozone growth projections moving forward. There are links between the PMI and subsequent growth performance.
Initial Market Reaction
It is interesting to see that markets are looking past this weakening of the PMI. The inflationary implications of the input cost pressures could have something to do with this.
German bund yields are marginally higher, whilst EUR has been supported.
- EUR/USD has picked up by +10/+15 pips since the data
