German industrial output up

German industrial output rose less than expected in December, economy ministry data showed on Friday, in a further sign that Europe's largest economy had a steady if slow end to 2014.

Production inched up 0.1 per cent month on month led by the manufacturing sector, undercutting the consensus forecast for a 0.4 per cent gain. But with November's data being revised up to a 0.1 per cent rise from a previously reported 0.1 per cent decline, the latest figures also marked the first time since early 2011 that German industrial production had increased for four months in a row.