Germany and France Keep Euro-Area Growth Pace at Six-Year High
- Italy and Spain maintain strong momentum, PMI reports show
- ECB policy makers meet this week amid improving economy
An employee carries out final inspections on the body shell of a freshly painted Nissan Micra automobile inside the Renault SA factory in Flins, France, on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. Carlos Ghosn, one of the auto industry's most celebrated turnaround artists, is relinquishing his CEO role at Nissan Motor Co. and turning over day-to-day control to Hiroto Saikawa as he focuses on strengthening the carmaker's alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
Photographer: Marlene Awaad/BloombergEuro-area manufacturing and services continued to expand at the fastest pace in six years, powered by growth in the region’s two biggest economies -- Germany and France.
A composite Purchasing Managers’ Index held at 56.8 in May, unchanged from the previous month, IHS Markit said on Monday, confirming a May 23 estimate. A gauge for services slipped slightly, while one for manufacturing that was published on June 1 remained unchanged.