FRANKFURT (MktNews) - Pan-German real plant and equipment orders in January were 11% above their level of January 2000, the German machinery manufacturers' association (VDMA) reported Friday.
In December, real plant and equipment orders rose 16% on the year.
Foreign orders rose 17% on the year, while domestic orders rose 2% on the year.
In the three-month comparison of November-January 2001, total orders were up 14% from year-ago levels.
The three-month comparison is influenced less by short-term fluctuations and therefore could provide a more reliable picture of the current state of the machinery sector, according to VDMA.