German private sector output growth strengthened slightly in August, according to flash PMI survey data from IHS Markit. The overall rate of expansion picked up from July's ten-month low, a trend reflected in both manufacturing output and services business activity. Similarly, new business inflows increased at a faster rate in August, having slowed the previous month.

Growth of output was broadly in line with the strong trend shown over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, employment continued to rise sharply in August and input cost inflation hit a fourmonth high.

The IHS Markit Flash Germany Composite Output Index registered 55.7 in August, up from 54.7 in July and indicating a sharp overall rate of expansion.

The index was broadly in line with its trend level over the past 12 months (55.6). Output has risen continuously since May 2013, the secondlongest sequence of growth since the series started in January 1998.