周四(4月23日)公布的调查显示,德国民间部门增长4月略微放缓,显示政府对于该国经济增长的谨慎预估可能是合理的。
德国4月Markit综合采购经理人指数(PMI)初值从3月的八个月高位55.4降至54.2。但该数据依然连续24个月高于50的荣枯线。
Markit经济学家威廉姆森(Chris Williamson)表示,第一季度经济增长在多个方面都非常不错,同时就业仍在上升,这使非常积极的信号。
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分项指标中的制造业PMI指数从3月的52.8下降至4月的51.9,低于路透预期的53.0。分项指标中的服务业PMI同样从3月的55.4下降至54.4,分析师预期为55.5。
由于就业增长,收入增加,油价下跌,德国个人消费不断上升,德国周三将今年经济增长预期上调至1.8%。
然而德国政府对于经济增长依旧保持谨慎态度,并没有像一些经济机构对于2015年经济增长预期的那么乐观,这些机构预计德国今年经济增长2.1%。
威廉姆森表示,如果5月的经济数据仍然低于预期,那么这些机构可能会将德国今年经济增长预期值向政府的预期靠拢。
Growth in Germany's private sector slowed slightly in April, a survey showed on Thursday, suggesting that the government's cautious growth forecast for Europe's largest economy might prove justified.
Markit's flash composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which tracks manufacturing and services activity accounting for more than two-thirds of the economy, fell to 54.2 from March's eight-month high of 55.4.
However, that was still comfortably above the 50 mark dividing growth from contraction for a 24th consecutive month.
"Growth had been really quite impressive in many respects at the end of the first quarter and we cooled a bit from that," Markit economist Chris Williamson said, adding that hiring still remained resilient which was an encouraging sign.、
The sub-index for the manufacturing sector unexpectedly dropped to 51.9 from 52.8 in March, undershooting a Reuters poll consensus of 53.0.
The sub-index for services also unexpectedly fell with a lower reading of 54.4 after 55.4 last month. The polled analysts had expected a broadly steady 55.5.
On Wednesday, Berlin raised its economic growth forecasts to 1.8 percent for this year and next as Germany rides high on a tide of strong private consumption thanks to rising employment, bigger paychecks and cheap oil. (Full Story)
However, the government -- which said it was being deliberately cautious -- is not as optimistic about growth in 2015 as leading economic institutes which last week almost doubled their growth forecast for this year to 2.1 percent.
"If we get another weak month in May then we should see their consensus come down more towards that government growth figure," Williamson said.