European manufacturing grew in December at the fastest pace in 16 months and German unemployment plunged as the region's economy gathered pace. An index of manufacturing rose to 53.6 from 52.8 in November, said NTC Research Ltd., which compiled the measure based on a survey of about 3,000 purchasing managers for Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc. A level above 50 indicates growth. The number of Germans without work dropped by 110,000, the most since the country's unification in October 1990. ``This is a very strong start to the year,'' said Ian Stewart, chief European economist at Merrill Lynch & Co. in London. ``The composition of this recovery is changing and starting to be more domestic-led with real improvements in labor markets.''
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