German Factory Orders Unexpectedly Fell in January

German factory orders unexpectedly declined in January as foreign demand for investment goods such as machinery slumped.

Orders, adjusted for seasonal swings and inflation, fell 2.7 percent from December, when they gained 1.6 percent, the Economy Ministry in Berlin said today. Economists forecast a 0.6 percent increase, according to the median of 37 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. From a year ago, orders dropped 4.9 percent when adjusted for work days.