The global slowdown appears to be hitting the Euro-area with the most force, sending some large countries such as Germany quickly towards a recession (if not in one already).
All of this comes just as the ECB put an end to their bond-buying program which will certainly fuel those who criticize central banks for their inability to forecast trends in growth and inflation.
The slowdown in Europe started in January of 2018 when the global economy peaked and world equity market volatility increased. The US, due to tax cuts and government spending, was able to