The mood among Czech manufacturers improved in December for the eighth straight month, hitting its highest level since April 2018 thanks to stronger output and new orders, a business survey showed on Monday.
Markit’s headline Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 57.0 in December from 53.9 in November, jumping further above the 50-point line dividing expansion from contraction.
Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a smaller rise to 54.4 points.
Output registered the sixth successive increase in December, with the fastest rate of expansion since June 2018, the data compiled by IHS Markit showed.
New orders in December increased for the fourth consecutive time, and to the highest reading since February 2018.