German exports drop surprisingly in January (Reuters) (10-03-2011)

BERLIN – German exports showed an unexpected drop to 11.8 billion euros ($16.4 billion) in January from a revised 14.2 billion the month before, as the Federal Statistics Office reported on Thursday.

Exports fell to 82.4 billion euros in January from 83.3 billion the previous month, while imports rose to 70.6 billion from 69.1 billion.

The surplus was expected to be 13.2 billion euros, while exports were seen rising 0.7 percent, as opposed to the 1.0 percent decrease they posted.

Germany has recovered faster than expected from a recession in 2009 that was its deepest since World War Two, and by the fourth quarter of last year it was growing 4 percent year-on-year.

The trade figures follow a run of strong data that have suggested Germany's economic recovery is intact and broadening at a time when some euro zone peers are struggling under the burden of a sovereign debt crisis.

Domestic demand fuelled a stronger-than-expected rise in German industrial orders in January, adding to signs the recovery in Europe's largest economy is on track and broadening.

Source: Reuters