FRANKFURT – German PWB fabricators' shipments fell 8.9% year-over-year in August, according to the two leading domestic trade groups.

Orders were off 30% compared to 2008, VdL and ZVEI said.

The book-to-bill ratio plunged to 0.96, down 29 basis points from August. A ratio of 0.96 indicates 96 euros worth of orders were received for every 100 euros worth of PWBs shipped. A sharp run-up in July orders – which caused the book-to-bill ratio to shoot up from 0.60 to 1.25 – was responsible for the swing. Still, 0.96 is the second-highest mark of the past 12 months.

Year-to-date sales were down 37% from last year through August. Orders, meanwhile, are off 25% from a year ago.

Employment fell 25% from a year ago, the trade groups said.