Europe’s manufacturing sector entered 2013 in a mostly downbeat fashion as new data revealed there had been no significant improvement in the weak level of output and orders.

Markits Purchasing Managers Index PMI for the German manufacturing sector fell to 46.0 from 46.8 in November, well below the 50 line that divides growth from contraction (Photo: irishtimes)

Markit's Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) edged down to 46.1 in December from November's 46.2. The final December figure was down below a preliminary reading of 46.3. PMI is an indicator used to assess growth in the manufacturing sector and the economy as a whole .The index is below the 50 mark, which proves that Eurozone manufacturing activities have slowed even further.