The latest PMI data pointed to the fastest increase in eurozone construction activity for eight months in December. Growth was supported by another rise in new orders and a further workforce expansion. Similarly, input buying increased at a quicker rate and supplier delivery times lengthened amid elevated demand. Meanwhile, input prices rose at the softest rate for over three years.

Up from 50.6 in November, at 51.3 in December, the IHS Markit Eurozone Construction PMI pointed to a faster expansion in construction activity across the currency area. In fact, the latest rise was the quickest for eight months amid accelerated growth in both Germany and France. Across the euro area's three largest economies, only Italy registered a reduction in construction activity.

At the sub-sector level, faster growth was primarily driven by home building, where the rate of activity expansion was the fastest since May. The rise in total activity was also supported by a fractional increase in commercial sub-sector. Meanwhile, work undertaken on infrastructure projects continued to fall, with the rate of decline little changed from October and solid overall. A key factor behind the increase in total construction activity was a further rise in new orders in the final month of 2019. Moreover, the rate of growth was the quickest since last February and historically marked.

Finally, sentiment towards the one-year business outlook was neutral in December. National data suggested that pessimism in Germany was offset by confidence in France and Italy