According to the data published by the German Economy and Labor Ministry on Wednesday, industrial output in Germany rose in July, driven by increased activity in the key manufacturing sector. German industrial output rose by 1.2 percent in July from the figure for June, after already having risen by 1.6 percent the previous month, the ministry announced. The main factor behind the increase was a 1.2-percent rise in output in the key manufacturing sector. By contrast, construction output was up by just 0.1 percent, while energy output slipped by 0.1 percent, the ministry explained. Using a two-month comparison to iron out short-term fluctuations, pan-German industrial output rose by 2 percent in June and July when compared with the figures for April and May.