German economic growth remained strong at the start of the second quarter of 2017, despite slower increases in both manufacturing output and services activity compared with the highs seen in March. The April PMI survey data also registered slightly softer rates of new business expansion and job creation, plus a slight moderation in price pressures.

The Markit Flash Germany Composite Output Index registered 56.3 in April, down from March's near six-year high of 57.1. This signalled the first easing in growth of private sector business activity since the start of the year, but still the secondfastest rate of expansion in over three years. The latest data extended the current sequence of continuous growth to four years.