BERLIN, May 8 (Reuters) - German exports unexpectedly rose for the first time in six months in March, preliminary Federal Statistics Office figures showed on Friday.
Adjusted for seasonal swings, exports rose by 0.7 percent to 66.4 billion euros ($88.46 billion), the figures showed. Imports also posted their first monthly increase since September, climbing by 0.8 percent to 57.6 billion euros.
This data meant that Germany's adjusted trade surplus held steady at 8.9 billion euros.
Analysts polled by Reuters last week had forecast the
German trade surplus would narrow to 8.0 billion euros
Data on Thursday showed a jump in foreign demand fuelled an increase in German manufacturing orders in March. Analysts said this may a sign Europe's largest economy will begin recovering in coming months after a sharp first quarter contraction.
The 3.3-percent rise in German orders was the first monthly increase in seven months, and the biggest since October 2007.
(Reporting by Dave Graham)