German industrial production increased for the third consecutive month in January adding to signs that Europe's biggest economy has had a strong start to the new year. According to dpa, output climbed by 0.8 per cent in January after growing by an upwardly revised 0.1 per cent in December, the Ministry of Economics said Friday. "Industrial production began the year on a marked upward course," it said. The output data followed the release by the ministry on Thursday of figures showing that German factory orders had rebounded by a more-than-forecast 1.2 per cent in January. Unemployment fell for the third consecutive month in February, dropping by a more than forecast 14,000 to 2.914 million after declining by 28,000 in January.
