Germany's industrial production rose for a second straight month and at the fastest pace in three months in March, defying expectations of a decline, and raised hopes of a strong economic performance in the first quarter.
Industrial production grew 0.5 percent monthly following a 0.4 percent increase in February, which was revised from 0.7 percent, preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office showed on Wednesday. Economists had forecast a 0.5 percent slump. The surprise growth in production came after news that factory orders rebounded in March, albeit at a slower-than-expected pace.
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April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.