Euro-Area Economy Cools Further in Sign Peak Growth Has Passed
- Composite PMI falls, retail sales and German orders disappoint
- Bad weather hit activity across the region, including the U.K.
Photographer: David Ramos/Bloomberg
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Euro-area economic momentum slowed to the weakest level in more than a year, adding to warning signs that the region’s upswing has passed its peak.
A composite Purchasing Managers’ Index dropped nearly two points in March, the most since 2012, when the 19-nation bloc was mired in recession. Growth in manufacturing cooled to an eight-month low last month, and sluggish orders in the region’s largest economy suggest there’s little additional strengthening in store.