Economics
Global Factory Growth Diverges From Europe to China: Economy
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Euro-area factory output expanded faster than economists forecast in January and a gauge in China signaled a surprise drop in manufacturing, highlighting the uneven nature of the global recovery.
A euro-area manufacturing index increased to 53.9 from 52.7 in December, Markit Economics said in a statement today. That exceeded the median estimate of 53 in a Bloomberg News survey of 39 economists. A Chinese gauge dropped to 49.6 from 50.5, weaker than even the most pessimistic forecast in a survey. A number below 50 indicates contraction.