Moreover, rates of growth in both total business activity and new contracts picked up from ten-month lows in July. Less positively, employment growth eased to a 16- month low and business expectations were the weakest in 2017 so far. Price pressures strengthened to a five-month high in the latest survey.

Commenting on the final PMI survey data, Trevor Balchin, Director, Economics at IHS Markit said: "The final PMI data for August confirmed the earlier flash estimate of a partial rebound in German growth following a slowdown in July. The Composite Output Index rose to 55.8 and new business expansion also strengthened. "The latest PMI data follow the official estimate of GDP expansion in the second quarter of 0.6% qr/qr and an upward revision for the first quarter to 0.7% qr/qr. Moreover, full-year growth in 2016 was also revised up to 1.9% in calendar-adjusted terms. "IHS Markit has increased its growth forecasts for 2017 and 2018 to 2.3% and 2.1% respectively (calendar-adjusted).