Factory orders logged a monthly fall of 3.8% in April, in contrast to the 4.5% increase in March. Economists had forecast a fall of 2.2%, the DPA reported.
On an annual basis, orders grew 1.6% but slower than the 6.1% growth posted in March.
Data showed a significant decline of 5.3% in new orders in the automotive industry followed by a 16.3% fall in the manufacture of electrical equipment.
Foreign orders decreased 4.2% from the previous month and domestic orders were down 2.9%.