Eurozone business growth at a standstill in July

The bloc's latest purchasing manager's index reading fell to 50.2 slightly above the 50 mark separating growth from contraction. 

Growth in eurozone business activity stalled last month as a stuttering expansion in the bloc's dominant services industry was compounded by a deeper downturn in the manufacturing sector, a survey showed.

HCOB's composite Purchasing Managers' Index for the currency union, compiled by S&P Global and seen as a good gauge of overall economic health, fell to 50.2 in July from June's 50.9.

It barely exceeded the 50 mark separating growth from contraction but was a tad above a preliminary 50.1 estimate and chalked up its fifth consecutive month in positive territory.

Chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, Cyrus de la Rubia, said the “eurozone's economy is growing at a snail's pace in July. Sector-wise, services is not picking up speed like it did earlier in the year, while the industrial slump has continued unabated”.

A final PMI covering the services industry dropped to 51.9 last month from 52.8, matching a preliminary estimate. 

The manufacturing PMI published last week showed factory activity remained mired in contraction amid a broad-based malaise, with output declining at its fastest pace this year.

Overall demand across the region fell for a second month — and at a sharper pace than in June. The composite new business index fell to 49.0 from 49.4.

The decline was despite firms raising prices at a slower pace in July than in June. Services inflation — closely monitored by the European Central Bank — moderated and the industry's output prices index fell to 52.9 from 53.5.