German exports rise, but September trade surplus narrows

BERLIN (AP) - Germany's trade surplus narrowed slightly in September as imports grew faster than exports for Europe's largest economy.

The Federal Statistical Office said Monday that September exports rose 2.6 percent to 100.3 billion euros ($108.18 billion) over the month before, when adjusted for calendar and seasonal factors. Imports rose 3.6 percent to 80.9 billion euros.

September's trade surplus was 19.4 billion euros, compared to August's 19.6 billion euros.

Germany exported 62.2 billion euros of goods to other countries inside the European Union in September, including 38.7 billion euros to countries using the euro currency, and 23.5 billion euros in goods to non-euro countries, in unadjusted figures.

It imported 55.3 billion euros in goods from other EU countries, including 37.8 billion euros from within the eurozone and 17.5 billion from those outside.