Manufacturing in Europe Falls; Swiss Retail Sales Slide

Arthi Gupta
03 Oct, 2011
New York City

Manufacturing activity in Europe continued to decline in September except for Italy. Hungarian trade surplus was lowered in July. Denmark

[R]3:30 PM Frankfurt – Manufacturing activity in Europe continued to decline in September except for Italy. Hungarian trade surplus was lowered in July. Denmark’s retail sales rose but Swiss retail sales slid in August.[/R]

Euro-zone Factory Activity Decreases

Euro-zone factory activity decline in September was less severe than expected, final results of a survey by Markit Economics showed today.

Final PMI manufacturing for the euro-zone reached a 25-month low at 48.5 in September compared to 49 in August. The preliminary reading was 48.4.

Euro-zone manufacturing sector contracted for a second consecutive month, led by the decline in new orders in all countries.

German Manufacturing Activity Declines

The seasonally adjusted Markit/BME PMI for Germany fell to 50.3, a two-year low in September from 50.9 in August, final data published by Markit Economics.

French Factory Activity Dips

France''s manufacturing industry contracted less than earlier estimated in September, data from a survey by Markit Economics and CDAF showed today.

The seasonally adjusted purchasing managers’ index for the manufacturing sector was at 48.2 in September, higher than 47.3 previously estimated. In August, the reading was 49.1.

Greek Manufacturing Sector Contracts

The headline purchasing managers'' index for the manufacturing sector for Greece edged down to 43.2 in September from 43.3 in August, marking the 25th consecutive monthly deterioration in operating conditions, data from a survey by Markit Economics showed.

Swedish Factory Sector Drops

Sweden''s purchasing managers'' index for the manufacturing sector dropped to 48.1 in September from 48.7 in August. The index declined for the fifth month in a row.

Spanish Manufacturing PMI Falls

The Spanish Purchasing Managers'' Index fell to 43.7 in September from 45.3 in August, the sharpest deterioration in business conditions since June 2009, data from Markit Economics showed on Monday.

Italian Manufacturing Sector Climbs

The Markit/ADACI manufacturing Purchasing Managers'' Index for Italy rose to 48.3 from 47 in August, Markit Economics said. Despite a fall in new orders, goods production increased significantly in September.

Hungarian Surplus Revised Down

Hungary''s trade balance was a surplus of €354.8 million in July, less than the €374 million surplus estimated earlier, final data released by the Central Statistics Office showed on Monday. In July 2010, the surplus was €162.4 million.

Export of goods increased to €6.15 billion in July from €5.82 billion a year earlier. Imports advanced to €5.80 billion from €5.65 billion in the same month last year.

Denmark’s Retail Sales Up

Denmark''s retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% in August compared to the 0.9% fall in July, data released by Statistics Denmark showed.

From a year ago, sales increased 0.2% in August, following a 4.1% drop in July. It was first annual increase since April.

Swiss Retail Sales Slide

Switzerland''s retail sales declined a seasonally adjusted 3.9% on a monthly basis in August following a 2.7% decline in July, data released by the Federal Statistics Office showed. Excluding fuel, sales fell 4.1% in August, after the 2.6% decline in July.

Sales of food, beverages and tobacco dropped 2.2% and non-food items excluding fuel fell 6.7% in August.

From a year ago, retail sales decreased a real 1.9% in August, after a 2.9% gain in July. Excluding fuel, the decline was 2.1% in August.