BERLIN: German exports fell sharply in November and industrial output also declined, suggesting Europe’s largest economy ended 2014 on a weak note.
The slowdown in the euro zone anchor both reflected and further fed weakness across the currency bloc, which is still struggling to emerge from a long-running economic crisis.
Some economists thought the rapid fall in oil prices could provide a boost for Germany’s powerful exporters in the future, while a weakening the euro may help companies selling beyond Europe.
In November however, seasonally-adjusted exports dropped for a second consecutive month, dipping by a bigger-than-expected 2.1 percent, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed on Friday.
Industrial output decreased by 0.1 percent as construction activity weakened and energy production fell, separate Economy Ministry data showed. That was weaker than a consensus forecast for a 0.4 percent increase and came as Spanish industrial production stagnated while French output dropped 0.3 percent.
Alongside earlier figures that showed German industrial orders plunging, Friday’s figures complete a poor outlook for the fourth quarter.
