World economic recovery struggling to gain traction

China's vast factory sector contracted again this month and the expected acceleration in euro zone business activity failed to materialize, highlighting the fragile state of a global economy. A survey out of China reinforced concerns of a minor slowdown in the world's second biggest economy while a sister index underscored an ongoing divergence between France, the bloc's second biggest economy, and the rest of the 18-member currency union.

Background:

World economic recovery struggling to gain traction [Reuters]

Downside of low inflation: A weaker global economy [WSJ]