France: Composite PMI rises to highest level in over four years in April
The S&P Global Flash Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 57.5 in April from 56.3 in March, marking the highest reading since January 2018. Thus, the index remained moved further above the 50-threshold, signaling a stronger improvement in business conditions from the previous month.
April’s result came amid less stringent Covid-19 restrictions and mainly reflected robust activity in the services sector, which rose at the fastest rate in over four years. Moreover, output in the manufacturing sector rose to a four-month high, but was again constrained by supply chain problems worsened by the war in Ukraine.
On the price front, these aforementioned delays led to higher costs for transport and energy, driving up prices for raw materials and prompting firms to increase their selling prices. Lastly, optimism regarding the coming year improved from last month as business were hopeful about the post-pandemic phase.