Economics

Europe’s Factories Headed Into 2020 With Less Hope for Jobs

  • Manufacturers’ outlook for demand, employment fell in December
  • In Germany, factory orders unexpectedly dropped by 1.3%
German Manufacturing Downturn Is ‘Bottoming Out’: Ifo’s Fuest
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Europe’s manufacturers headed into the new year on a downbeat note, with expectations for both export orders and employment weakening at the end of a rough 2019.

The latest sentiment figures from the European Commission came just hours after Germany reported an unexpected drop in manufacturing orders. That’s a volatile figure, but it adds to signs that Europe’s largest economy is still struggling to overcome its worst industrial downturn in a decade.