Manufacturing orders in January fell 3.9% on the month,much more than expected. The median forecast was for a1.3% fall. Orders were expected to fall after the tax-inducedrise in Q4 2000 but the size of the decline and the sharp fallsin domestic and foreign demand will raise more questionsabout the strength of German growth. Foreign orders fell 6.8%on the month; domestic orders fell 1.5%. All majormanufacturing orders categories declined in January.