Dutch manufacturing activity deteriorated further in November, though modestly, survey figures from Markit Economics showed Monday.
The seasonally adjusted Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, or PMI, rose to 48.1 in November from 47.3 in the previous month. However, any reading below 50 indicates contraction in the sector.
Manufacturing production dropped again in November, due to lack of demand in the economy. But, the rate of contraction was only marginal.
New orders also declined in November, extending the trend which began in September 2014.
Manufacturers reduced their employment levels for the eighth consecutive month in November, as outstanding work continued to fall.
On the price front, input prices rose for the tenth month running in November. In contrast, firms cut their selling prices during the month.
"With output prices remaining low, and the euro depreciating, these factors could ignite consumption and push the manufacturing sector to a stable level by the early months of the new year," Samuel Agass, Economist at Markit, said.
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