Manufacturing businesses in the eurozone produced less in June than the month before, the first time in three years manufacturing activity has contracted in the 15-nation currency bloc and a sure sign that economic growth is slowing.

The RBS/Markit eurozone purchasing managers’ index fell to 49.2 in June from 50.6 seen in May, a decline that saw the indicator cross the 50-point-mark above which output is growing. An earlier June flash-estimate had forecast 49.1.