Europe Sees Surprisingly Strong Rebound in Business Activity
- Germany and France return to expansion amid mild winter
- UK firms unexpectedly show first output growth in six months
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Europe’s biggest economies beat expectations as business activity returned to growth, boosting the chances they can stave off recessions.
Gauges of private output in Germany and France both signaled expansion in February after pullbacks in January, while the UK’s purchasing managers’ index showed the first positive reading in six months — jumping to 53 from 48.5.