Reuters reports that the Bundesbank said that German economy is likely to shrink sharply this quarter as pandemic-fighting curbs hit the services sector and even the booming construction industry slows.

“The measures to contain the pandemic are more stringent on average in the current quarter than in the previous one,” the Bundesbank said. “Therefore, the economic output in the first quarter of 2021 is likely to decline sharply ... particularly in the contact-intensive service sectors.”

It added that an increase in sales tax, which had been temporarily cut last year, had probably contributed to a substantial decline in construction in January.

Industrial production also eased in the first month of the year but order intake was strong and exports of goods increased, the Bundesbank added.