Economic momentum in the euro area unexpectedly accelerated to the fastest pace in almost seven years as manufacturing posted record growth at the end of 2017.
A composite Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 58 in December from 57.5 in November, IHS Markit said. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicted a decline to 57.2. An index for Germany, the region’s biggest economy, jumped to the highest since 2011.
