The PMI index for the Polish industrial sector increased to 48.5 points in December from the 48.2 level seen in November of last year. The index still remains below the 50-point benchmark, meaning that the industrial outlook is deteriorating, allbeit slower than in the past months, said Piotr Bielski, economist at Bank Zachodni WBK.

The December result suggests a lower decrease in production and slightly more new orders, according to the authors of the data, Bank HSBC and Markit. It is hard to say at this point whether this means a turnaround or merely a stabilization of the economic downturn.

Poland A.M.