The German manufacturing sector continued to grow at the strongest rate in over six years mid-way through 2017, according the June PMI survey data from IHS Markit and BME. Overall operating conditions improved at the strongest pace since April 2011. Moreover, the 12-month outlook for production remained strongly positive. Meanwhile, input prices rose at the slowest pace in seven months, albeit one that remained strong overall.
The PMI rose for the sixth time in seven months in June, posting 59.6, up from 59.5 in May. This signalled the strongest overall improvement in manufacturing business conditions in Germany since April 2011. The upward movement in the PMI reflected a faster rise in new orders and a greater lengthening in supplier delivery times, while growth of output and employment remained strong despite easing slightly since May. The current 31-month period of overall growth in the goods-producing sector is the second-longest in the 21-year survey history