Amid coronavirus fears, global manufacturing and service sectors experienced the steepest fall since 2009, says the February edition of IHS Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, released in early March.

[For ENR’s latest coverage of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, click here]

China's economy has seen the largest fall, with South Korea, Japan and Taiwan also hit hard by the impact of the virus.

这家研究公司的首席商业经济学家克里斯·威廉姆森（Chris Williamson）指出，在去年第四季度之前的低迷之后，尤其是在中国以外的日本，日本目前正在挣扎。

他指出：“日本看起来正处于衰退。”

While the PMI rose in the Eurozone, Williamson predicts a recession in both Italy and Germany, as well as a downturn in Spain and France, with virus outbreaks there "to act as a drag."

在12月大选之后，英国的经济持续了很好，经历了少量增长。威廉姆森说，尽管1月底的退出欧盟有助于缓解一些英国退欧的担忧，但对未来贸易安排的担忧仍然存在，他还期望该国不断增长的冠状病毒案件影响到未来的经济。

The U.S. suffered its first drop in overall business activity since 2013, following six months of slowing growth.

威廉姆森说：“公司越来越担心Covid-19的爆发也将达到需求，据报道，由于总统大选的不确定性，这已经在冷静下来。”“最近的股票市场波动也可能进一步削弱消费者支出并阻止商业投​​资。”