Germany: Industrial output contracts at sharpest pace since March in December
Industrial production slid 1.6% calendar-adjusted month-on-month basis in December (November: -0.2% mom). December’s figure marked the worst reading since March. The figure was partly due to a deterioration in manufacturing production. In contrast, mining and quarrying production stabilized after contracting in the prior month. Lastly, construction sector production dropped at a sharper rate, while energy production lost steam.
On an annual basis, industrial output declined 3.0% in December, a softer contraction than November’s 4.3% fall. Meanwhile, annual average of industrial production was stable at November’s 1.6% in December.