Following a solid start to the year, signs emerged Wednesday that the 19-country eurozone economy is losing some traction. While a closely-watched survey indicated that economic activity grew at a steady pace in April, a separate report pointed to a sharp drop in retail sales in March. Financial information company Markit said its purchasing managers’ index, a broad gauge of business activity, was 53.9 points in April. Though slightly lower than the near four-year high of 54.0 in March, it remained well above the 50-point threshold that separates growth from decline. The firm said the survey provides further evidence that countries that have made bold economic reforms over the past few years are reaping the benefits. Overall, Markit said the survey points to quarterly economic growth of 0.4 percent in the first quarter of the year, in line with expectations. “The fact that the rate of […]