 The restrictions placed on German heavy industry production were thus partly ameliorated, as permitted steel production levels were raised from 25% of pre-war capacity to a new limit placed at 50% of pre-war capacity.The reduction in steel production that resulted from the first and the second "level of industry" plans meant that a steel production bottleneck ensued which forced other parts of German industry to fall below their own permitted production levels.The economy of the Bizone finally hit rock bottom early in 1948 as a consequence of this.