German Factory Orders Drop in Sign of Enduring Weakness
- March demand falls 0.4% from February, analysts saw 0.4% gain
- Separate data show exports jumped more than expected in March
This article is for subscribers only.
German factory orders unexpectedly dropped in March — pointing to persistent weakness in a sector that’s already lagging behind the improvement in the wider economy.
Demand fell 0.4% from the previous month, defying economists’ expectations for a 0.4% gain. Major orders drove the decline, without which there would have been growth of 0.1%, the statistics office said Tuesday in a statement.