German Industrial Output Rises

Industrial output in Germany showed a modest increase in October, driven primarily by increased activity in the key manufacturing and construction sectors, data published by the German Economics and Labor Ministry showed on Thursday. German industrial output rose by 0.6 percent in October from the figure for September, gaining ground on an increase of 0.1 percent the previous month, the ministry said in a statement. Economic activity was up in the manufacturing and construction sectors, while energy output declined, the ministry noted. Manufacturing output increased by 0.9 percent in October from September and construction output rose by 1.5 percent, while output in the energy sector declined by 1.6 percent. Using a two-month comparison to iron out short-term fluctuations, pan-German industrial output slipped by 0.2 percent in September and October combined from the figure for July and August, the ministry calculated.