Markit surveys on service and manufacturing
Prior was 54.7
Markit services index 53.4 vs 54.6 expected (54.7 prior) - lowest since Jan
Markit manufacturing index 53.9 vs 55.0 expected (55.3 prior)
Manufacturing new orders lowest since April 2017
Expectations of business growth at 2.5 year low
Jobs growth at lowest in 1.5 years
Services new orders lowest since April 2017
Poor numbers. This is a leading, forward-looking indicator. The dip is a bit of a worry after some very strong retail numbers earlier.
"The flash PMIs bring signs of the US economy ending 2018 on a softer note. With business activity expanding at the slowest rate for one and a half years, the surveys indicate that the pace of economic growth has faded to 2.0% in December albeit closer to 2.5% for the fourth quarter as a whole."
