What Is Happening to Global Growth?

Investors are being wrong-footed by weaker than expected data

The soft patch in the global economy is looking more soft and less like a patch.

Wednesday’s flash purchasing managers indexes for the eurozone and Japan showed fresh declines. The eurozone composite index fell to 54.1, compiler IHS Markit said, an 18-month low and weaker than forecast; in Germany business confidence about the outlook slipped to its lowest since November 2016.

The...