February saw the rate of improvement in eurozone manufacturing operating conditions gather further momentum. At 55.4, up from 55.2 in January, the final Markit Eurozone Manufacturing PMI rose to its highest level since April 2011 despite posting slightly below its earlier flash estimate of 55.5.

National PMI data indicated that seven out of the eight nations covered saw operating conditions improve (the sole exception being Greece). Three countries also registered faster rates of expansion - the Netherlands, Germany and Italy