(ANSA-AP) - FRANKFURT, 14 FEB - Germany narrowly avoided a
recession in the fourth quarter, reporting only zero growth as
foreign trade made little contribution to Europe's largest
economy.
The lackluster figure released Thursday by the state
statistics agency followed a 0.2 percent fall in output during
the preceding third quarter. Business spending on machinery and
equipment as well as construction supported the economy in the
fourth quarter and kept Germany from suffering two straight
quarters of negative growth, one definition of a recession.
Slowing global trade amid U.S.-China trade tensions has been
holding back Germany's export-focused economy. Growth last year
was also hit by troubles in the auto industry when automakers
had difficulty getting new cars certified under new emissions
tests, and by low water on the Rhine River that interrupted
commerce.
The slowdown led the European Commission last week to cut its
growth forecast for Germany for this year to 1.3 percent from
1.9 percent. The weak second half followed stronger performance
in the first six months, leaving growth for the full year at 1.5
percent. (ANSA-AP).
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