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 rose by 1.4% between December and January. [2] Industrial orders increased by 3.3%, whereas demand for consumer goods fell by 5.8%. Orders of intermediate goods saw a slight increase by 0.2%. The figure for intermediate goods excluding large orders went up 2.8%.

The two-month comparison between December/January and October/November shows a slight decline of the order volume (-0.2%). Large orders excluded, the figure reveals a moderately positive development (+0.4%).

New manufacturing orders returned to an upwards trend in January, exceeding the pre-pandemic level reached in Q4 2019 by almost 6%. The driver of the most recent surge was foreign demand (+4.2%), whereas domestic orders declined by 2.6%. Importantly, orders in the large automotive and mechanical-engineering sectors saw a favourable development (+2.3% / +3.4%).

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