There was a decline of more than 5% in the struggling auto sector, although Germany's statistics agency said this was partly due to factory holidays. (EPA Images pic)

FRANKFURT: German industrial production rose to its highest level for a year and a half in August, according to data released Wednesday, but officials warned that the economy's recovery was still fragile.

Factory output rose by 2% month-on-month on the back of strong growth in the construction sector, after a 1.2% fall in July, according to provisional data from statistics agency Destatis.

Analysts surveyed by financial data firm FactSet had forecast a slight decline.

It is the latest evidence that Europe's biggest economy is gaining strength after several years of stagnation, boosted by a public spending blitz.