Eurozone PMI shows growth slows in Q4

Frankfurt

A GAUGE of euro-area services and manufacturing signalled economic growth slowed in the final quarter of 2014, supporting calls for more stimulus by the European Central Bank (ECB).

A Purchasing Managers' Index for both industries rose to 51.4 from 51.1 in November, London-based Markit Economics said on Tuesday. While that's above the 50 mark that divides expansion from contraction, the reading falls short of a preliminary reading of 51.7 published on Dec 16. The data suggests the euro-area economy expanded 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter, Markit said.