After a sustained period of contraction in the eurozone’s second-largest economy, August HCOB ‘flash’ PMI® data showed signs of stabilising business conditions as French private sector output was broadly unchanged on the month – a trend also observed at the sub-sector level. Meanwhile, for the first time since last November, employment levels increased, with the rate of job creation at a 16-month high. The pick-up in hiring came despite a pessimistic 12-month outlook and, despite easing compared to earlier in the year, ongoing demand weakness. The headline HCOB Flash France Composite PMI Output Index posted close to ... (full story)