German industrial output falls more than forecast

German exports posted a surprise fall in July, despite renewed hopes about the global economy, data released Friday showed. Monthly exports from Europe's biggest economy slumped 1.1 % in July after rising 0.6 % in June, the statistics office said. Analysts had forecast a gain of 0.7 %. Imports climbed by 0.5 % in July, but fell short of predictions of a 0.7-per-cent increase. The country's trade surplus narrowed to 16.1 billion euros (21.1 billion dollars) in July from a revised 17 billion euros in June, the statistics office said. In a related development, Germany's industrial output fell more than expected in July following a sharp drop in the production of investment goods, data released Friday showed. Monthly output in Europe's biggest economy contracted by 1.7 % in July after rising by 2 % in June, the Ministry of Economics said.  Analysts had expected production would decline by 0.5 % in July. The output of investment goods, which includes equipment and machinery, dropped by 3.4 % in July, the ministry said.