Euro-area manufacturers have started to pass on the latest oil-price slump to their customers. Factory-gate prices fell in September for the first time in six months as input costs declined at the fastest pace since January, London-based Markit Economics said in a report on Thursday. A Purchasing Managers’ Index for the manufacturing industry fell to 52 last month from 52.3, in line with a Sept. 23 preliminary reading. The European Central Bank is closely watching the impact of the slide in energy costs on the wider economy. Consumer prices in the 19-nation euro area contracted in September for the first time since March, rekindling speculation that policy makers will need to expand their 1.1 trillion-euro ($1.2 trillion) asset-purchase program to revive inflation. “Despite unprecedented central-bank stimulus and substantial currency depreciation, the euro-zone manufacturing sector is failing to achieve significant growth momentum and even risks stalling again,” said Chris Williamson, […]