The seasonally adjusted final IHS Markit Germany Services PMI Business Activity Index rose for the second month running in September to 55.6, up from 53.5 in August. The latest reading signalled the joint-fastest rate of expansion seen since the end 2015, equalling that recorded in March. Average services growth in the third quarter was slightly down on quarter two, however.

The seasonally adjusted final IHS Markit Germany Composite Output Index meanwhile registered its highest reading in almost six-and-a-half years, at 57.7. This reflected not only the stronger increase in services activity, but also a further acceleration of manufacturing output growth to the fastest since early-2011.