The ongoing expansion of the eurozone manufacturing sector gathered further momentum in May. Growth in output and new orders accelerated to the best seen for around six years, to underpin the strongest job creation in the 20-year survey history.

The final IHS Markit Eurozone Manufacturing PMI rose to a 73-month high of 57.0 in May, up from 56.7 in April and unchanged from the earlier flash estimate. The PMI has signalled expansion in each of the past 47 months.

Improved business conditions were signalled in seven out of the eight nations covered by the survey. The growth acceleration was mainly driven by a stronger expansion in Germany, where the rate of increase was the fastest in over six years.