(IHS Markit) The Eurozone PMI Composite Output Index rose to 55.8 in February, a five-month high and an acceleration from a reading of 52.3 in January.
The rise in output reflects the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, which fell to the lowest since November.
The service sector saw an increase in activity, with the output index up to 55.8 in February, a three-month high, and an uptick from 51.1 in January.
The manufacturing PMI Output Index hit a five-month high of 55.6, from 55.4 in January. The manufacturing PMI reached a two-month low of 58.4, from 58.7 in January.
Growth in business was the highest in France after hitting a record since June, while Germany was the fastest since August.
New orders increased to the highest since August, with the manufacturing and services posting robust gains that pushed backlogs to the largest gain in half a year.
Employment increased for the second straight month, hitting the highest since November. Jobs in manufacturing were at the highest since July, while those in the service sector reached a three-month high.
Supply constraints eased in manufacturing, helping the cool inflation, with the input costs rising at the slowest since Mach. Service sector input cost inflation rose to a record high as energy costs and wages soared.
Output charges rose at the fastest rate, reaching a record high in the service sector and a near-record level in manufacturing.
Firms remained optimistic, with the future output expectations at the highest since June.
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