FILE PHOTO: A steel worker of Germany's industrial conglomerate ThyssenKrupp AG which holds its annual shareholders meeting on Friday February 1, 2019, takes a sample of raw iron from a blast furnace at Germany's largest steel factory in Duisburg, Germany, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo
Industrial output increased by 0.5 percent on the month, defying a forecast for a 0.5 percent fall, data released by the Statistics Office and ministry showed on Wednesday. Data on Tuesday had showed German industrial orders rose less than expected in March after two months of steep declines. The German government has slashed its forecasts for 2019 growth to 0.5 percent, a sharp slowdown following expansion of 2.2 percent and 1.4 percent in 2017 and last year respectively.