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RETAIL SENTIMENT SLIDES ON CONTINENT
RETAILERS in both Germany and Italy are suffering from the weakening economy, according to yesterday’s purchasing managers’ index from Markit. Germany’s retail PMI declined from 53.9 in August to 51.4 in September, approaching the “no change” level of 50. Italy’s increased from 42.4 to 44.9 indicating a slower rate of decline. “Households looked to rein in non-essential purchases,” said a Markit economist.