BERLIN: German industrial output declined for the second consecutive month in September, official data showed Friday, adding strains to the third quarter growth.
Compared with the previous month, German industrial output declined by 1.1 percent in September, said German federal statistic office Destatis. In August, the output went down by 0.6 percent.
In the third quarter, the total output saw a slight decrease of 0.3 percent compared with the previous period.
The new figures came a day after a report which showed that German manufacturing orders had dropped for three months in a row. Weak demand, especially from countries outside the euro zone, suggested German factory production would be limited near the end of the year.
“After a good performance in the first half of the year, the German industry is currently experiencing a slight headwind from the global economy,” the German Economy Ministry said in a statement.
However, the ministry expected the dry spell to last only temporarily as “business climate in the industry remains positive.”
Economists said the sluggish production of German factories added strains to the third quarter growth which was scheduled to be released next Friday. Private consumption was the only driving force that could maintain the upward trend of Europe’s biggest economy.
German economy expanded by 0.3 percent in the first quarter this year, and by 0.4 percent in the second. Over the whole year, the German government expects the economy to grow by 1.7 percent.
