France Markit January PMI now out 5 Feb
- 59.3 flash
- composite 59.6 vs 59.7 exp/flash
Slightly soggier final readings but limited impact from this data nowadays
Says Markit:
- Business activity growth in the French services sector was broadly unchanged from the previous month at the start of 2018, and remained among the steepest recorded for six-and-a-half years.
- The expansion was supported by the sharpest rise in new orders since May 2011, which in turn contributed to a further marked rise in staffing numbers. Nevertheless, backlogs of unfinished work accumulated at the quickest pace since May last year. Meanwhile, business confidence remained firmly positive despite a marginal moderation from December.
- On the price front, input cost inflation intensified,
Full Markit report here