German Factory Orders Jumped More Than Forecast in February

German factory orders rose almost five times as much as economists forecast in February, indicating growth in Europe’s largest economy gathered pace in the first quarter.

Orders, adjusted for seasonal swings and inflation, gained 2.4 percent from January, when they jumped 3.1 percent, the Economy Ministry in Berlin said in a statement today. Economists had forecast a 0.5 percent increase for February, according to the median of 33 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. From a year ago, orders rose 20.1 percent.