German industrial output fell in December, weighed down by declining activity in all sectors, but the construction sector in particular, official data showed today.
Industrial production in December dropped by 2.9% compared to output in the previous month, the economy ministry said. In November, output had remained unchanged month-on-month.
Manufacturing output declined by 2.7%, with output of capital goods dropping 3.6%. Energy output was down 2.2%, but the strongest decline was seen in the construction sector, where output slumped 6.4%, the data showed.
Taking the fourth quarter of 2011 as a whole, industrial output declined by 1.9%, the ministry calculated.
"The outlook for industrial output remains subdued for now," it said. "However, a stabilisation in industrial orders and rising sentiment indicators offer the first signs that the current period of weakness is over," it added.
Data yesterday showed that industrial orders in Germany rose in December, partly reversing steep falls seen the previous month.
