While March figure was revised upwards by 1% to 3.2%, April
results fell short of expectations – a drop in factory orders by 1.9% instead
of an expected 1% contraction. The ministry thinks that this decline should be treated just as a
correction of strong March figures. The fall is attributed to decreasing
foreign demand, because foreign orders tumbled 3.6%, while domestic orders advanced
0.4%, comparing to March. Eurozone countries ordered 1.8% less, non-Eurozone
countries - 4.7% less.