Mumbai, Jan. 2 -- The eurozone's manufacturing sector suffered a setback at the end of the year, latest HCOB PMI data showed, with production levels decreasing for the first time since last February.
Demand for euro area goods also saw fresh signs of weakness as new orders fell at the quickest pace in almost a year. Worsened sales performances came despite continued discounting, even as the rate of input cost inflation ticked up to a 16-month high.
Nevertheless, surveyed business were their most optimistic towards the year-ahead outlook since immediately prior to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The HCOB Eurozone Manufacturing PMI, a measure of the overall health of the eurozone manufacturing sector compiled by S...