Purchasing Managers Index

By Dimitra Manifava

The mood regarding the economy in Greece is at its gloomiest in the last 18 months as the uncertainty over the future grows and fears of the worst are far from banished, according to a survey on economic sentiment by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) published on Tuesday.

Bulgaria's construction sector index of production in August was 1.6% below its level in the previous month, according to the national statistics preliminary data.

In August 2014, the working day adjusted data showed a decrease by 0.3% in the construction production, compared to the same month of 2013.

Greece’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell last month to its lowest point this year, hitting 48.4 points – below the zero-change point of 50 points – according to Markit, which compiles the index.

Greek factory activity contracted at the fastest rate in almost a year in September as output and new orders declined, a survey showed on Wednesday.

Markit's purchasing managers' index for manufacturing, which makes up about 10 percent of Greece's economy, fell to 48.4 in September from 50.1 in August, sliding back below the 50 mark that denotes growth.

Bulgaria's construction sector index of production in July was 0.3% below its level in the previous month, according to the national statistics preliminary data.

In July, the working day adjusted data showed an increase by 2.9% in the construction production, compared to the same month of 2013.

By Jonathan Cable

Eurozone private business growth slowed more than expected this month, despite widespread price cutting, as manufacturing and service industry activity both dwindled, a survey showed on Thursday.

In June, the index of production in the construction sector, calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data, was 0.1% above the level of the previous month.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute, in June 2014 there was an increase by 5.6% in the construction production, compared to the same month of 2013.

The return to growth of the manufacturing sector proved short-lived, as the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) dropped to a nine-month low in July to 48.7 points, against 49.4 points in June, according to Markit Economics.

In May 2014, the construction production index, calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data, was 1.7% above the level of the previous month.

In May 2014 working day adjusted data showed an increase by 6.2% in the construction production, compared to the same month of 2013, according to the preliminary data, provided by Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute.

The Economic Sentiment Index compiled by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) climbed to a six-year high in June, reaching 103.7 points, a level unseen since April 2008.