FRANKFURT -- Unusually cold weather in February put a damper on German industrial output, data from the economy ministry showed Thursday.
Industrial production fell 1.3% on the month in adjusted terms, the ministry said. Experts polled by Dow Jones Newswires ahead of the release had expected a more modest 0.5% drop.
The ministry also revised downward the previous month's figures, saying output grew only 1.2%, instead of the 1.6% first reported.
Construction was mainly to blame for the February downturn, dropping by a whopping 17.1% during a bout of unusually cold weather.
Among other key categories, manufacturing output was down by a more modest 0.4%, while output in capital goods rose 0.3%, maintaining some momentum after January's 1.9% gain. This could be a positive sign for Germany's economy, which depends heavily on the manufacture and export of heavy machinery.
Energy output was also positive, increasing by 1.6% in February, the ministry said.
Consumer goods output dropped by 2.1%, with durable goods falling 2.6% and non-durables down 2%.
For the two months combined, output was down 0.8% compared with the total for November and December.
The ministry said, however, that sentiment from firms remains positive, suggesting output will improve soon.
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