BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Greece's manufacturing activity registered its strongest growth in seven months as output and new orders continued to rise despite widespread uncertainty in economic conditions, survey data from S&P Global showed on Wednesday.
The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose slightly to 54.5 in March from 54.4 in the previous month. Any reading above 50.0 indicates expansion.
Both production and new orders continued to increase amid sustained domestic demand. Nonetheless, rates of growth eased amid greater client uncertainty and back-to-back contractions in new export orders.
On the price front, inflationary pressures soared in March due to the impact of the war in the Middle East. The input price inflation was the quickest since June 2022, fueled by higher costs for oil, energy, and raw material prices. As a result, selling price inflation rose to the highest for almost three and a half years.
Firms continued to raise their purchasing activity at a strong pace despite supplier lead times lengthening to the largest degree since August 2024. Meanwhile, delayed shipments drove a further rise in stocks of finished goods. They also increased workforce numbers, though the rate of job creation softened to the lowest level in eight months.
Looking ahead, business confidence faded in March as uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East and its impact on raw material costs and supply chain operations weighed on optimism.
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