Business activity in the Eurozone has increased as expected, with the European Central Bank (ECB) likely to announce a 25-basis point cut to the main lending rate. Data from the latest HCOB purchasing managers' index (PMI) shows that private sector output in most Eurozone economies expanded at the fastest rate in a year in May. Growth in Germany, Italy, and Spain outweighed a slight downturn in France, leading to overall positive business activity across the Eurozone. Inflation also cooled during this period, providing further support for the anticipated interest rate cuts by the ECB.