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German business activity growth softens in October, PMI shows

October 23, 2026 3:33 AM EDT

A worker manufactures and assembles a drone at a Quantum Systems facility in Germany, August 25, 2026. REUTERS/Fariha Farooqui

By Maria Martinez

BERLIN, Oct ‌23 (Reuters) - Germany's private ​sector ​growth softened in October as inflows of new work rose only modestly, a preliminary business survey showed on Friday.

The S&P ‌Global Flash Composite PMI Index for Germany fell to 52.8 ⁠in October from 53.8 in September, but remained in growth territory for the fourth ‌consecutive month.

Economists polled by Reuters ‌had forecast a reading of 53.3.

The composite index tracks the services and manufacturing sectors that together account for more than two-thirds of ​the euro zone's largest economy. A reading above the 50 mark signals growth.

"October's flash PMI results encouragingly showed a sustained upturn in ⁠business activity across Germany, although a slowdown in growth underscored that the recovery in the euro zone's ​largest economy remains fragile," said Phil Smith, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Factory production continued to rise ​at a robust pace, with the ‌manufacturing PMI rising to a two-month high of 54.2 from 53.9 in September.

Services activity meanwhile increased for the second ⁠month running but only modestly, with the PMI index at 51.7, down from 52.9 in the previous month.

New business across the private sector rose only slightly, ⁠the survey showed. Demand stalled in services as firms reported delayed customer decisions and ​tighter client budgets, while manufacturing order growth eased to a three-month low but remained supported by export sales.

The overall rate of inflation in prices charged for goods ‌and services was at a seven-month low, although it was still comfortably higher than its long-run average.

German firms ‌remained optimistic overall about output over the next 12 months but confidence among ⁠services firms rose to its ‌highest since February, while ​manufacturers' expectations fell to their lowest since July amid concerns over rising input prices.

(Reporting by Maria Martinez; Editing by ‌Toby Chopra)



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