The latest rise in month-on-month sales reflected a further strong increase in Germany and a more modest expansion in France, although sales growth eased in both countries. In Germany the index was 55.2, down from November's six-month high of 57.7, and in France it fell for the second month, to 52.4 from 53.5 in November. Growth in Germany and France contrasted with a drop in Italian sales, which fell from 48 in November to 46.9 in December—the fastest pace of decline for eight months.

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