German exports fall unexpectedly in August

By Maria Martinez Oct 8 (Reuters) German exports unexpectedly in August due to sharp ​decline in exports to ‌the United States. Exports fell by 0.8% compared with the previous month, data from the federal statistics ‌office ​showed on Thursday. The ⁠result compared with ⁠a forecast 0.6% increase in a Reuters poll. Imports were up 0.9% on a calendar ​and seasonally adjusted basis compared with July. As a ⁠result, the trade ⁠surplus narrowed to €19.5 billion ($21.82 ​billion) in August from €21.6 billion ​in July. Exports to EU countries ‌dropped by 0.6% on the month, while exports to countries outside the EU decreased ⁠by 1.1%. Exports to the United States fell by 6.3% on July, ⁠while ‌exports to the United ⁠Kingdom increased by 16.7%. Meanwhile, ​exports ‌to China rose by ​4.7% ⁠but imports increased by 11.0%. ($1 = 0.8935 euros) (Reporting by Basile Day in Gdansk and Maria Martinez in Berlin, Editing by ​Friederike Heine)