The eurozone's composite purchasing managers' index edged up to 52.1 in August from 52.0 in July, S&P Global data showed on Thursday, as a surge in German factory output offset softening in France.
Germany's composite PMI dipped marginally to 51.0 from 51.3, but its manufacturing index jumped to 54.1, marking the strongest performance in more than four years and beating economists' forecasts for a decline to 52.0. Phil Smith, an economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said production, new orders, and exports had all risen at their fastest pace since early 2022. In France, the composite gauge slipped to 48.8 from 49.4, remaining in contraction territory.
S&P Global chief economist Chris Williamson said the survey data point to robust third-quarter GDP growth of around 0.3 percent for the bloc.