Euro zone economic growth gathered further momentum in March, according to PMI ® survey data, reaching a near six – year high. The survey also saw the best employment growth for almost a decade as both manufacturing and service sector firms responded to surging order books. Business optimism meanwhile hit a new peak, but price pressures also intensified to a near six – year high. The Mar kit Eurozone PMI rose to 56.7 in March,according to the preliminary ‘flash’ estimate (based on approximately 85% of final replies). Up from 56.0 in February, the latest reading was the highest since April 2011. The first quarter average of 55.7 is the highest since the first quarter of 2011. Inflows of new work and backlogs of work also both grew at the fastest rates since April 2011, underscoring the recent strengthening of demand. The upturn was broad – based. Growth of service sector activity accelerated to the highest since April 2011, and manufacturing output growth eased only marginally from February’s near six – year peak. Importantly, growth of new orders gathered pace in both sectors to reach near six – year highs. Goods producers saw the largest increase in export orders (including intra -euro zone trade) since April 2011.