Latest PMI data pointed to a quicker contraction in French business activity during January, partially driven by the imposition of stricter coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) curfews. The result extended the current sequence of contraction to five months, as the country continued to try and contain the second large-scale outbreak of the virus. At the sector level, the decline in output was broadbased. Service providers registered a sharper decline compared to December, while manufacturers saw a fresh downturn following a modest expansion last month. The reduction seen in the service sector during January was the ... (full story)