The European Commission now expects 1.3% growth for the eurozone this year, down from 1.9% in its previous forecast. This downward adjustment doesn’t come as a surprise, considering the declining trend of several survey indicators. The recent performance of these indicators in tracking GDP growth is mixed, which makes the assessment of the current growth momentum challenging.
Most economic data remain low regarding their long-term average. Following three months of decline, the PMI services stabilized in January (51.2) and surprised on the upside. Economic growth in the Eurozone remained stable at 0.2% q/q in Q4 2018, reflecting divergent developments. In particular, Italy slipped into recession in late 2018 while French growth was resilient. Core inflation, still well below ECB’s medium-term inflation target, was above expectations.
