A survey has shown that activity in the important euro zone service sector in February showed a 'worrying slowdown', though there were gains in manufacturing.
The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the euro zone, compiled by data and research group Markit, remained unchanged on 53.7 points. This was the seventh month the figure was above the key 50 mark, which indicates growth.
'A surge in growth of manufacturing, driven by rising exports and inventory rebuilding, offset a worrying slowdown in the already meagre rate of expansion seen in the service sector,' said Markit chief economist Chris Williamson.
He also said price pressures were gathering in the manufacturing sector, as shortages of some important materials were allowing suppliers to hike prices.
Separate figures from the European Central Bank showed that the euro zone's balance of payments in December marked its first gain in five months, showing a surplus of €1.9 billion.
In November, the balance of payments, an overall measure of all current payments into and out of a country or region, posted a deficit of €500m.
On the financial account, the central bank reported net inflows of €44 billion in December, as more money was ploughed into euro zone assets than was invested abroad by euro zone companies and institutions, an ECB statement said.
The balance of payments, which includes payments for imports and exports of trade in goods and services, is a closely watched indicator of an area's ability to pay its way in the world.
For 2009 as a whole, the euro zone's current account showed a provisional deficit of €59 billion, or around 0.7% of the euro zone economy. That was well below the 2008 deficit of €140.6 billion.
