German Manufacturing Orders Rose More Than Forecast in February

German factory orders rose more than twice as much as economists forecast in February, adding to signs that Europe’s largest economy returned to growth in the first quarter.

Orders, adjusted for seasonal swings and inflation, increased 2.3 percent from January, when they dropped a revised 1.6 percent, the Economy Ministry in Berlin said today. Economists forecast a 1.1 percent gain, according to the median of 33 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. In the year, workday-adjusted orders were unchanged.