In January the Purchasing manager index manufacturing in the Eurozone (processed by the Markit Economics study centre) recovered to 48,8 points (forecasts were 48,7 points), from 46,9 points the previous month, reaching the highest value in five months, but remaining in any case below the fateful threshold of 50, which marks the dividing line between an expanding and a contracting economy.
Going into detail, the growth of Germany (from 48,4 to 51, therefore expanding) and Austria and the sharp decline in the contraction recorded in Spain and above all in Italy (from 44,6 to 46,8, the highest value in the last 4 months) more than offset the decline in the index in France (from 48,9 to 48,5) and Ireland and the collapse of Greece (to 41 ), thus determining the general growth. The signals from China are also positive, where, according to an index elaborated by the authorities, the PMI is reported to have risen slightly (from 50,3 to 50,5).
