Private sector activity in the euro area rose in January, S&P Global and Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB) said in a second report on Wednesday. The composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) stood at 50.2, compared to 49.6 in December. The release confirmed the preliminary report's findings for overall activity, while the service PMI was revised down by 0.1 points to 51.3.
"The services outlook is modest. The index for business expectations fell slightly and has been below the historical average since mid-2024. Given the many political uncertainties, particularly the new elections in Germany and the fragile government in France, this isn't surprising. No major growth leaps are expected in this sector for now," HCOB Chief Economist Cyrus de la Rubia said.