German industrial output plunged unexpectedly in December and exports and imports also fell, data showed yesterday, in a sign that Europe’s largest economy ended 2015 on a weak footing.

Industrial output fell by 1.2 per cent on the month, the strongest decline since August 2014, data from the Economy Ministry showed. The figure fell short of the consensus forecast in a Reuters poll for a 0.4 per cent increase.

Industrial output fell by 1.2 per cent on the month

“Industrial production went through a dry spell at the end of 2015,” the Economy Ministry said in a statement, adding, however, that a rise in industrial orders in the fourth quarter pointed to an expansion in production at the start of this year.

Separate data from the Federal Statistics Office showed that seasonally-adjusted exports fell by 1.6 per cent in December while imports were also down by 1.6 per cent, narrowing the trade surplus to €18.8 billion.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected exports to rise by 0.5 per cent and imports to go down by 0.5 per cent.

For 2015, Germany registered a new record trade surplus of €247.8 billion, up from €213.6 in 2014, the data showed.

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