Euro Area Factory Activity Confirmed at Nearly 4-Year High in World Economy News 05/05/2026 The S&P Global Eurozone Manufacturing PMI climbed to 52.2 in April 2026, its highest in nearly four years, up from 51.6 in March and matching initial estimates. Factory output rose the most since August, driven by improving demand, as new orders grew at the fastest pace in four years and export orders increased for the first time in over four years. Front-loaded purchasing, linked to expectations of higher prices amid war-related energy and supply shocks, supported sales. Firms boosted input buying to the highest level since mid-2022, straining supply chains and lengthening delivery times to their worst since July 2022. Inventory levels declined but at a slower pace, while employment continued to fall despite rising backlogs, extending nearly three years of job cuts. Cost pressures intensified sharply, with input inflation reaching a 46-month high and output prices rising at the fastest rate in 39 months. Meanwhile, business confidence weakened to its lowest since November 2024. Source: Trading Economics 2026-05-05 hellenicshippingnews... tweet Share