Worker in a factory symbolize the development of new manufacturing orders; Source: Monty Rakusen/cultura/Corbis

© Monty Rakusen/cultura/Corbis

According to the Federal Statistical Office [1], new manufacturing orders fell between November and December by 1.9%. [2] Capital goods saw a 4.6% decline, whereas demand for consumer and intermediate goods increased by 6.4% and 0.8% respectively. Excluding large orders, new orders fell almost to the same extent (-2.0 %).

In the fourth quarter as a whole, orders grew by a total of 7.0% compared with the third quarter. Adjusted for large orders, the rise in orders reached a similar level (+7.2 %).

Although new manufacturing orders fell slightly in December due to the tightened lockdown restrictions, they still surpassed the level of the fourth quarter of 2019 before the outbreak of the pandemic by almost 5%. The recent decline was primarily due to the automotive industry and other vehicle construction, whereas a number of other sectors – including pharmaceutical products and electrical equipment – registered considerable increases.

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[1] Press release by the Federal Statistical Office of 5 February 2021.
[2] All figures are based on provisional data and have been adjusted for price, calendar day and seasonal factors (X13 JDemetra+ procedure).