German industrial production fell in April

German industrial production in April shrank by 1.4 percent in seasonally and calendar-adjusted terms, instead of the expected 0.9 percent decline, compared to March, when it grew by 2.3 percent.

German industrial production in April fell by 1.8 percent in calendar-adjusted terms compared to a year earlier, after the annual decline in March was more modest, at 0.2 percent.

The less volatile three-month comparison shows that industrial production was 0.5 percent higher in February-April than in the previous three months.

The decline in industrial production in April was caused by a number of sectors, such as pharmaceutical production falling by 17.7 percent and machinery and equipment production by 2.4 percent, which was only partially offset by a 1.4 percent increase in construction and a 5.7 percent increase in food production.

Excluding energy and construction, industrial production fell by 1.9 percent in April compared to the previous month, adjusted for calendar and seasonal factors.

Production of capital goods fell by 2.3 percent, intermediate goods by 1.9 percent and consumer goods by 1.5 percent. Energy production fell by 1.6 percent.