German Industrial Output Dips in May

Industrial output in Germany slipped fractionally in May, hit by falling activity in the key manufacturing sector, data published by the German Economics and Labor Ministry showed on Friday. German industrial output declined by 0.2 percent in May from the figure for April, after having risen by 1.3 percent the previous month, the ministry said in a statement. The main factor behind the fall was a 0.5-percent decline in output in the key manufacturing sector. By contrast, construction output was up 0.7 percent and energy output rose by 1.4 percent, the ministry explained. Using a two-month comparison to iron out short-term fluctuations, pan-German industrial output rose by 1.0 percent in April and May combined from the figure for February and March, the ministry calculated.