Clouds over German economy as industrial output, exports fall

An unexpected drop in German industrial production in December, as well as a decline in exports, cast a shadow over the outlook for Europe's biggest economy, analysts said on Tuesday. According to regular data compiled by the economy ministry, industrial output fell by 1.2 percent in December, disappointing analysts' expectations for a modest increase. Factory output -- a key yardstick for gauging the health of Europe's biggest economy -- had already declined fractionally by 0.1 percent in Novem