German industry output rose for a third consecutive month in January, as mild winter boosted construction in the Europe's largest economy, official data showed Friday.

Adjusted for price, calendar and seasonal factors, total output of the German industry sector expanded by 0.8 percent in January over the previous month, when production grew by a revised 0.1 percent, German Federal Economic Ministry said in a statement.

"The production in industry remained in a clearly upward trend at the beginning of the year," said the ministry. "The mild winter contributed to a strong expansion of construction."

According to the ministry, construction output in January was up by 4.4 percent. Manufacture production, meanwhile, increased slightly by 0.3 percent.

Recent figures showed that German economy started the new year with strong momentum. The Economic Ministry said on Thursday that industrial orders in January rose by 1.2 percent month-on-month, supported by both domestic and foreign demands. Morale of consumers, business and investors also stayed at a high level.

After expanded by 0.4 percent unexpectedly in the fourth quarter of last year, German economy was expected to accelerate in 2014. German government forecast that German gross domestic product (GDP) would rise by 1.8 percent in the new year, while German industry expected the GDP to grow by 2 percent. Endi