German manufacturing orders fell a less-than-expected 3.4 per cent in January from the previous month, preliminary Economy Ministry data showed today.
The ministry warned the January data had to be viewed against the distortion of December's unusually large increase in orders, which was revised down to 7.6 per cent, from 8.2 per cent.
"The overall development of manufacturing orders in the past few months signals continued brisk activity with persistently strong demand from abroad," the ministry said.
The mid-range forecast of 20 economists polled by Reuters last week was for a 4.0 per cent monthly decline in January.
Domestic orders fell 7.1 per cent on the month, while foreign orders were up 0.8 per cent, the data showed.
Orders in the December through January period rose by 4.4 per cent compared with the previous two months.