German Industrial Output Unexpectedly Sinks as Rebound Struggles

  • May output declined 2.5% from previous month; est. 0.1% rise
  • Industry has been the weak spot for Europe’s biggest economy

German industrial output fell 2.5% from the previous month.

Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

German industrial production unexpectedly plunged in May — the latest sign that the recovery in Europe’s biggest economy may be faltering.

Output fell 2.5% from the previous month, the statistics service said Friday. While April was revised up to a slightly positive reading, May’s outcome was below all 28 estimates in a Bloomberg survey of analysts.