German industrial output falls in December

Output slipped 0.6 percent month-on-month in December, after rising by 3.1 percent the previous month, federal statistics authority Destatis said in data adjusted for price, seasonal and calendar variations.

Looking at the different sectors, capital goods makers reported a drop in output of 2.6 percent in December, while consumer goods production fell by 0.5 percent.

By contrast, output of intermediate goods grew expanded by 1.5 percent.

Elsewhere in the economy, energy output increased 1.4 percent, while construction output shrank by 1.7 percent.

On Tuesday, Destatis had reported a rebound in industrial orders for December.

And analysts see the German economy continuing to perform well this year, with businesses, consumers and investor all brimming with confidence, according to recent surveys.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s difficulties to form a new government after inconclusive September elections have done little to sour such confidence, analysts say.