Euro zone growth slows as Chinese factories trundle on

FE Team | Published: September 24, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Workers look at machines moving newly made raw bricks at a factory in Huaibei, Anhui province, China recently. — Reuters Photo

LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) : Euro zone business growth dipped to a 2014 low in September as firms again cut prices, while factory activity in China picked up only slightly, surveys showed, keeping the spotlight on policymakers' plans for economic stimulus.
The data seems sure to dishearten the European Central Bank, struggling to spur growth and revive disconcertingly low inflation and whose head Mario Draghi again raised prospects on Monday of using extra unconventional measures if needed.
In China, signs of a weakening labour market reinforced expectations that authorities in Beijing would further relax financing conditions in coming weeks.
"The Chinese number beat expectations but it's not really going anywhere," said Peter Dixon, senior economist at Commerzbank. "It's indicative of an economy that doesn't have a lot of momentum behind it. It's doing okay but we would be looking for a bit more strength."