Berlin — German industrial production unexpectedly fell for the first time in 2017 in June, data showed on Monday, although it increased in the second quarter overall. Output declined 1.1% on the month after rising 1.2% in May, the economy ministry data showed. Expectations in a Reuters poll were for a 0.2% gain. But factories and construction firms in Europe’s largest economy produced 1.8% more in the April-June period than in the first quarter and the ministry said order levels, along with business climate indicators, pointed to the upward trend continuing. "As unexpected as today’s drop in industrial production has been, the German economy is still on track to post another strong quarter," said ING Bank economist Carsten Brzeski. But a scandal over diesel emissions and cartel allegations engulfing Germany’s vehicle industry could ultimately hurt the economy, he said, especially as cars make up about one-fifth of German exports. The output data followed a run of upbeat economic in...
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