Germany Leads European Manufacturing to Best Month Since 2018

Euro-area manufacturing grew at the fastest pace in more than 2 1/2 years in December, bringing some positive news at the end of an horrific 2020 for the region’s economy.

Final readings of IHS Markit’s monthly surveys showed growth led by Germany, where activity expanded the most in almost three years, with all other countries covered also reporting an improvement on November. The euro-area index came in at 55.2, up from 53.8 though slightly lower than an earlier preliminary reading.