Germany Economy: Jan. industrial output and exports down
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Moving to Germany now. German factory activity and exports both cooled in January, but analysts say that the country's broad outlook remains robust.
Industrial output fell for a second month in a row by 0.1 percent in January. Officials said that seasonal factors contributed to the dropping numbers. That's because the winter months normally see eased industrial activities and extended holidays. This year's unusually warm January also led to a decline in energy output. Meanwhile, both exports and imports fell 0.5 percent. Analysts say the January data doesn't suggest a structural economic slowdown though newly implemented U.S. tariffs are among the main risks for Germany going forward.