Sharp drop in German factory output stokes recession fears | Business

FRANKFURT, Germany, Oct 8, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - German industrial production fell more sharply than expected in August, data showed Wednesday, reviving fears of a recession in Europe's largest economy as it reels from US tariffs. Data from the statistical office Destatis showed that from July to August, industrial production fell by 4.3 percent, much further than the one percent decline anticipated by analysts surveyed by Factset. Following a contraction in GDP of 0.3 percent in the second quarter, the latest figures show "that the risk of yet another quarter of contraction and thus an outright technical recession is very real", said economist Carsten Brzeski of ING bank. Later on Wednesday, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche will present the government's growth forecasts...