Mumbai, Jan. 2 -- Germany's manufacturing sector endured a further setback as 2025 ended, with goods producers recording a decrease in output for the first time in ten months amid a sustained decline in demand, the latest HCOB PMI survey data showed.
The downturn, which was driven in large part by falling export sales, also led to deeper cuts to employment, purchasing and stocks of inputs.
Elsewhere, the latest data pointed to tighter supply-side conditions, with lead times on purchases lengthening for a fourth straight month and input costs rising for the first time in almost three years.
Competitive pressures nevertheless led to a further decrease in factory gate prices. More positively, manufacturers remained optimistic about the outl...