FRANKFURT (AFP) - German industrial output stagnated in January, as higher construction output offset falling activity in the manufacturing and energy sectors, official data showed on Friday.

Industrial production was unchanged in January compared with December, the ministry said in a statement, disappointing analysts' expectations for a rise of around 0.4 per cent.

Output had expanded by 0.6 per cent month-on-month the previous month.

While energy output declined by 2.3 per cent and manufacturing output edged down by 0.2 per cent, construction output grew by 3.0 per cent, the ministry calculated.

Taking the two months of December and January combined, to iron out short-term fluctuations, overall output edged 0.3 per cent higher, driven primarily by rising manufacturing output, the ministry said.

On Thursday, the ministry had already published disappointing industrial orders data, which showed a 1.9-per cent drop in factory orders in January, weighed down by shrinking exports.