Growth in the euro zone services sector slowed slightly this month but factories ramped up production, with prices rising at the fastest monthly rate in three years.

The April purchasing managers’ survey showed the fastest pace of job growth since late 2007, but also highlighted that business activity in Germany and France continued to outpace the rest of the common currency bloc.

The Flash Markit Eurozone Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slipped to 56.9 in April from the previous month’s near four-year high of 57.2, in line with consensus. – (Reuters)