The eurozone manufacturing sector made a strong start to 2018. Although January saw rates of growth in output and new orders ease from near-record highs at the end of last year, they remained among the best seen since the survey began in 1997.

The final IHS Markit Eurozone Manufacturing PMI posted a three-month low of 59.6 in January, down from December's record high of 60.6 and identical to the earlier flash estimate. The PMI has signalled expansion in each of the past 55 months.