Including services and manufacturing, the eurozone PMI composite output index was at 47.3, up from 46.5 in November.

BBC: Eurozone manufacturing sees 'signs of moderating'

The PMI services index for the 17-nation bloc fell to 53.7 from 54.2 while the PMI composite reading dipped to 53.3 from 53.6.

FORBES: Lingering Fear Floats The Dollar

Its PMI composite index points to a small decline in national output in the second quarter, according to Markit, which assembles the indices.

ECONOMIST: The world economy