Businesses in the eurozone suffered “an unprecedented collapse” in March because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to a closely watched indicator released on Tuesday by IHS Markit.
Provisional data showed the slump in activity in the 19-nation zone in March “far exceeding that seen even at the height of the global financial crisis,” with the company’s PMI survey diving to 31.4.
A reading below 50 points indicates a contraction. In February, the index had stood at 51.6. The latest reading for March is the lowest since IHS Markit started its PMI survey in 1998.
The indicator reflected a near-shutdown of eurozone economies as COVID-19 sweeps across Europe.
Major economies Italy, France, Germany and Spain are all deeply affected and have implemented severe social and business restrictions to try to slow the virus’s spread, by keeping potential carriers at home.
The eurozone’s economic struggle was worsened by some EU member states closing off their borders to neighbours, limiting the flow ofgoods and people within the single market. EU countries are starting to deploy massive state spending and loan guarantees to prop up businesses and employment, with the EU dropping its strict rules on budget deficits.
The IHS Markit survey showed the services sector was pummelled the worst, sliding to well below where it was at during the 2009 global financial crisis. Manufacturing was also hit, supply chains were being badly degraded, and there was “a record fall in export business as cross-border trade flows seized up”. Employees are being let go at the fastest rate since June 2009.
“Expectations of future output also deteriorated markedly to reach an all-time low, with record degrees of pessimism about the year ahead seen in both manufacturing and services,” IHS Markit said.