German industrial output fell more than expected in June, data published today has shown, suggesting that factories in Europe's largest economy ended the second quarter on a weaker footing.
Data from Germany's Economy Ministry showed industrial output dropped 0.9%, undershooting a forecast for a fall of 0.5%. That came after a downwardly revised rise of 2.4% in May.
In the April-June period, industrial output rose by 0.4% on the quarter, the ministry added.
"That's not a great result but it could have been worse,"Bankhaus Lampe economist Alexander Krueger said.
"In contrast to the first quarter, industrial productionsupported growth in the second quarter," Krueger added.
A sector breakdown showed manufacturing fell by 0.8% and construction dropped by 3.2% in June. Energy production jumped by 2.9%.
The Federal Statistics Office will publish preliminary gross domestic product growth data for the second quarter next Tuesday.
Analysts polled by Reuters expect Germany's quarterly growth rate to pick up to 0.4% from 0.3% in the first three months of the year.
The Federal Statistics Office said in a separate statementthat seasonally adjusted exports were unchanged on the month in June while imports rose by 1.2%.
The seasonally adjusted trade surplus narrowed to €19.3 billion from an upwardly revised €20.4 billion in May.
In the first half of the year, the trade surplus was nearly unchanged at €121.5 billion after €121.3 billion inthe first six months of the previous year, unadjusted data showed.
