German industrial output sees steepest decline in over three years

(Sharecast News) - Industrial output across Germany registered its steepest monthly decline in more than three years in August, falling significantly more than analysts had expected. Price-adjusted production in industry fell 4.3% during the month, erasing a revised 1.3% increase in July, according to Destatis on Wednesday.

That was the sharpest monthly decrease since March 2022, and well under the consensus forecast of -1.0%.

A sharp fall in output across the automotive industry, Germany's largest industrial branch, was largely to blame, with production down 18.5% from July - though partly due to a the combination of annual plant closures for holidays and production changeovers.

Also weighing on headline figures was a 6.2% drop in machinery and equipment manufacturing, a 10.3% decline in pharmaceutical output and a 6.1% decrease in the output of computer, electronic and optical products.

Compared with August 2024, overall industrial production was down 3.9%, following a 1.5% year-on-year increase in July.