After accounting for seasonal factors, the IHS Markit Eurozone Manufacturing PMI recorded a final reading of 51.4, unchanged from the flash estimate but down from 51.8 in November. Although extending the current run of expansion to five-and-ahalf years, the latest PMI reading was the lowest seen since February 2016.

Commenting on the final Manufacturing PMI data, Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit said: “A disappointing December rounds off a year in which a manufacturing boom faded away to nearstagnation. “The weakness of the recent survey data in fact raises the possibility that the goods producing sector could even act as a drag on the overall economy in the fourth quarter, representing a marked contrast to the growth surge seen this time last year. The last three months of 2018 saw manufacturers report the worst quarterly performance in terms of production since the second quarter of 2013”.