Falling exports a drag on German economy

German exports fell sharply in November and industrial output also declined, suggesting Europe’s largest economy ended 2014 on a weak note.

The slowdown in the eurozone anchor both reflected and further fed weakness across the currency bloc, which is still struggling to emerge from a long-running economic crisis.

Some economists thought the rapid fall in oil prices could provide a boost for Germany’s powerful exporters, while a weakening of the euro may help companies selling beyond Europe.