Private sector businesses in the U.S. indicated a strong start to 2021, as output and new orders rose further. Rates of expansion in business activity accelerated at manufacturers and service providers, with goods producers registering the sharpest upturn in output since August 2014. Adjusted for seasonal factors, the IHS Markit Flash U.S. Composite PMI Output Index posted 58.0 in January, up from 55.3 in December. The private sector seemed to regain growth momentum at the start of 2021, as the pace of increase quickened to the second-fastest since March 2015. At the same time, private sector businesses signalled ... (full story)