In December, the Greek manufacturing sector proved strong as its performance improved at the fastest pace recorded since July, according to the latest PMI survey data from S&P Global.

The overall rise was supported by faster increases in output and new orders as demand conditions improved. Companies had also recovered their morale thanks to a larger inflow of new orders, resulting in business confidence about the outlook for output over the coming year rising to the highest level recorded in seven months.

Goods producers also recorded new employment growth as input purchases increased at a faster pace.

At the same time, inflationary pressures intensified as input costs and output charges rose at a faster pace. S&P Global's seasonally adjusted Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector in Greece closed at 53.2 points in December, up from 50.9 points in November.

The latest data indicated the strongest improvement in the health of the goods-producing sector recorded since July. The improvement was broadly steady and historically elevated. The third consecutive monthly increase in output at Greek manufacturers' factories in December contributed to the overall growth.