Business and Economy
German industrial production up disappointing 0.2 per cent in April, though orders strong
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Industrial area port in Hamburg, Germany. Photo by MTrebbin / Shutterstock.comBERLIN—German industrial production edged up by a smaller-than-expected 0.2 per cent in April compared with the previous month, even as factory orders in Europe’s biggest economy strengthened.
The figure reported Friday by the Federal Statistical Office was below economists’ expectations of a rise by 0.3 per cent or more. In March, production dropped by 0.6 per cent—revised downward from the original reading of a 0.
5 per cent fall.
The data came a day after the statistical office reported a much stronger-than-expected rise in factory orders, which rebounded by 3.
1 per cent in April after falling the previous month.
The economy grew by a robust 0.8 per cent in the first quarter compared with the previous three-month period. Second-quarter growth is expected to be slower.
