German machinery orders increase in January

The German engineering industry started the new year positively as orders rose again in January after a decline in the previous month, the German Engineering Association (VDMA) said on Tuesday. Orders for German machines and tools increased by 6 percent in real terms in January, compared with the previous year, VDMA said. Domestic demands grew by 2 percent, while foreign orders were up by 7 percent. "Positive factors are the clearly improved business climate and good demand from non-euro countries," said VDMA chief economist Ralph Wiechers, adding that uncertainties of some emerging countries and the crisis in Crimea also posed risks for the industry. In December, German engineering orders dropped by 6 percent year-on-year due to weak demand from both domestic and foreign business. In 2013, orders for German machines dropped by 2 percent.