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| German economic recovery falters | German economic recovery falters |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Germany's recovery from recession faltered in the final quarter of 2009, according to preliminary figures released on Friday. | Germany's recovery from recession faltered in the final quarter of 2009, according to preliminary figures released on Friday. |
| The German economy failed to grow at all in the last three months of the year, with GDP unchanged compared with the previous quarter. | The German economy failed to grow at all in the last three months of the year, with GDP unchanged compared with the previous quarter. |
| Meanwhile, France reported a 0.6% rise in GDP for the same three-month period - better than analysts expected. | Meanwhile, France reported a 0.6% rise in GDP for the same three-month period - better than analysts expected. |
| Figures also showed the eurozone economy grew 0.1% in the same quarter. | Figures also showed the eurozone economy grew 0.1% in the same quarter. |
| ANALYSIS Hugh Pym, BBC chief economics correspondent | |
| Economic growth in the eurozone has slowed to a crawl - and that's bad news for the UK as much as it is for member states. | |
| The 0.1% growth figure for the fourth quarter of 2009 was worse than expected and puts into perspective the UK's similarly anaemic performance over the same period. | |
| Germany has hit the buffers after relatively strong growth in the second and third quarters - its performance then may have been over-dependent on stimulus measures such as the car scrappage scheme, since withdrawn. Italy, meanwhile, has lurched back to declining output. | |
| Double-dip recession is the fear. That cannot help UK exporters who sell more than half their goods and services in other EU economies. | |
| This represents a slowdown in the economies of the 16-nation zone, which grew by 0.4% between July and September last year. | This represents a slowdown in the economies of the 16-nation zone, which grew by 0.4% between July and September last year. |
| Official first estimates indicated that the Italian economy shrank by 0.2% after growing by 0.6% in the previous quarter. | Official first estimates indicated that the Italian economy shrank by 0.2% after growing by 0.6% in the previous quarter. |
| They also showed that Spain and Greece remained in recession, with the Greek economy contracting by 0.8%. | They also showed that Spain and Greece remained in recession, with the Greek economy contracting by 0.8%. |
| On Thursday after a summit in Brussels, EU leaders said Greece had to take further measures to tackle its huge debts and cut its budget deficit by 4% this year. | On Thursday after a summit in Brussels, EU leaders said Greece had to take further measures to tackle its huge debts and cut its budget deficit by 4% this year. |
| They agreed in principle on Thursday to support Greece, but no specific commitments on aid were agreed. | They agreed in principle on Thursday to support Greece, but no specific commitments on aid were agreed. |
| Greece's debt crisis has put pressure on the euro, making markets nervous. Following the German GDP figures, the euro fell further against both the pound and the dollar. | Greece's debt crisis has put pressure on the euro, making markets nervous. Following the German GDP figures, the euro fell further against both the pound and the dollar. |
| Worse than feared | Worse than feared |
| The stall in German growth follows two consecutive quarters of growth in Europe's largest economy. | The stall in German growth follows two consecutive quarters of growth in Europe's largest economy. |
| Germany emerged from recession last summer thanks to a recovery in its exports - on which it largely relies. | Germany emerged from recession last summer thanks to a recovery in its exports - on which it largely relies. |
| We no longer have a slump, but rather a very weak recovery Gerd Hassel, economist, BHF Bank | We no longer have a slump, but rather a very weak recovery Gerd Hassel, economist, BHF Bank |
| "Exports were the only positive contribution," said the Federal Statistical Office. | "Exports were the only positive contribution," said the Federal Statistical Office. |
| The BBC's Tristana Moore in Berlin said the figures were "worse than expected". | The BBC's Tristana Moore in Berlin said the figures were "worse than expected". |
| Analysts were surprised by the figures, with the majority expecting modest growth in the last three months of the year. | Analysts were surprised by the figures, with the majority expecting modest growth in the last three months of the year. |
| Year-on-year, the economy shrank by 1.7%, the figures showed. | Year-on-year, the economy shrank by 1.7%, the figures showed. |
| "We no longer have a slump, but rather a very weak recovery," said Gerd Hassel, economist at BHF Bank. "The first quarter will probably turn out weak too." | "We no longer have a slump, but rather a very weak recovery," said Gerd Hassel, economist at BHF Bank. "The first quarter will probably turn out weak too." |
| Data earlier this month showed a strong rebound in German exports, with exports up for the fourth month in a row in December. | Data earlier this month showed a strong rebound in German exports, with exports up for the fourth month in a row in December. |
| That was despite an 18.4% fall in exports for 2009 as a whole - the biggest year-on-year fall since 1950, losing it the title of world's biggest exporter to China. | That was despite an 18.4% fall in exports for 2009 as a whole - the biggest year-on-year fall since 1950, losing it the title of world's biggest exporter to China. |
| Meanwhile another quarter of growth in the French economy added to optimism over the strength of France's recovery from recession. | Meanwhile another quarter of growth in the French economy added to optimism over the strength of France's recovery from recession. |
| "I think [0.6%] is really a satisfactory result that proves that the stimulus measures we took ... were efficient," said Christine Lagarde, the French economy minister, speaking to a French radio station. | "I think [0.6%] is really a satisfactory result that proves that the stimulus measures we took ... were efficient," said Christine Lagarde, the French economy minister, speaking to a French radio station. |
| Are you in Germany? What is your reaction to these figures? Does it feel like the economy is faltering? You can send us your views using the form below: | Are you in Germany? What is your reaction to these figures? Does it feel like the economy is faltering? You can send us your views using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |