Eurozone PMI Manufacturing was finalized at 47.7 in May, unrevised, down from April’s 47.9. That’s also very close to six year low at 47.5 made in March. Looking at the member states, German PMI manufacturing was worst at 44.3. Austria reading dropped to 50-month low at 49.5. Italy reading improved to 8-month high at 49.5 but stayed below 50. Spain reading dropped to 3-month low at 50.2. France reading improved to 3-month high at 50.6, barely expanding.
Commenting on the final Manufacturing PMI data, Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit said:
“Euro area manufacturing remained in contraction during May, suggesting the sector will act as a drag on the wider economy in the second quarter.
“A fourth successive monthly drop in output and further steep decline in new orders underscored how the sector remains in its toughest spell since 2013. Companies are tightening their belts, cutting back on spending and hiring. Input buying, inventories and employment are all now in decline as manufacturers worry about being exposed to a further downturn in demand.
“That said, although the headline PMI fell in May, the decline masked slower rates of decline for both output and new orders. The forward-looking orders- to- inventory ratio also picked up for a second month running to reach a six-month high, the improvement of which augurs well for the downturn to moderate in June.
“However, trade wars, slumping demand in the auto sector, Brexit and wider geopolitical uncertainty all remained commonly cited risks to the outlook, and all have the potential to derail any stabilisation of the manufacturing sector.”
Also released, Swiss CPI slowed to 0.6% yoy in May, down from 0.7% yoy and matched expectation. Swiss PMI manufacturing rose 0.2 to 48.6 in May, below expectation of 48.8.
