Frankfurt am Main: Industrial production in Germany grew 2.8 percent in January, preliminary data showed Wednesday, comforting fears that global uncertainty could put the brakes on Europe's largest economy.
December also saw a smaller fall in production than previously thought, the price-, seasonal- and calendar-adjusted figures from federal statistics authority Destatis showed, at 2.4 percent month-on-month rather than 3.0 percent.
"Industrial production made a good start into the new year," the federal economy ministry in Berlin commented in a statement.
In a less volatile two-month comparison, production fell 0.7 percent in December-January from its level in October-November, the ministry noted.
Data released Tuesday showing a slump in industrial orders in January had clouded otherwise sunny prospects for the German economy, currently enjoying its lowest level of unemployment since 1990 and high consumer and business confidence.
Nevertheless, "overall, industrial activity ought to continue to pick up" as the year goes on, the economy ministry predicted.
Looking to individual sectors in industry, capital goods makers added the most production in January, at 6.1 percent, followed by consumer goods firms at 2.3 percent and producer goods at 1.7.
Energy production fell slightly, losing 0.7 percent, while construction lost 1.3 percent.
