The German economy escaped a recession in the third quarter as strong consumer spending helped output grow 0.1% quarter-on-quarter, defying expectations of a contraction, preliminary data showed today.
Gross domestic product in Europe’s largest economy expanded by 0.5% from July to September after a 0.3% expansion from April to June.
This is according to seasonally adjusted figures from the Federal Statistics Office.
Private household spending was higher than in the second quarter and the state also increased spending, the statistics office said, adding that construction also supported growth.
“We do not have a technical recession, but the growth numbers are still too weak,” Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said.
While exports edged up, imports remained at about the level of the previous quarter, the office said, suggesting that net trade had a positive impact on the economy.
The Statitics Office revised down the quarterly GDP rate for the second quarter to a 0.2% quarter-on-quarter contraction from a previously reported 0.1% decline.
Analysts polled by Reuters for the third quarter had expected a 0.1% contraction quarter-on-quarter and a 0.5% expansion year-on-year in seasonally adjusted terms.
