Official figures show that German industrial output rose in August, a further signal that Europe's biggest economy is recovering from the deepest recession for six decades.
Preliminary data from the economy ministry showed industrial production climbed a seasonally adjusted 1.7% in August from July, after falling back 1.1% the previous month. Analysts had expected a slightly smaller rise.
'With the clear increase in August, industrial production should rise noticeably in the third quarter as a whole,' the ministry said in a statement.
The data are the latest in a series pointing to brighter times ahead for Germany, one of the world's leading exporters. On Wednesday, Germany announced that industrial orders posted their sixth straight monthly rise in August.
The government recently raised its view on economic output this year, forecasting a contraction of between 4% and 5%, compared with a previous estimate of 6%.
