Slow growth
, February 21, 2013
Volkswagen cars are pictured in a delivery tower at the company's headquarters in Wolfsburg. Hopes the euro zone might emerge from recession soon were dealt a blow on February 21 as surveys showed the downturn in the region's businesses worsened unexpectedly this month - especially in France. Economists had expected that Thursday's Flash Eurozone Services PMI would add to tentative signs that a recovery is in the offing. But the indicator fell in February to 47.3 from 48.6. PMI compiler Markit said the schism between Germany and France - the two biggest economies in the euro zone - is now at its widest since the survey started in 1998. Reuters/Fabian Bimmer/files