Germany’s GDP growth slows

Germany, Europe’s top economy, experienced much slower-than-anticipated growth in the second quarter of this year. The disappointing numbers have raised questions over how much support the country can lend to the European Union bloc in the midst of its debt crisis. According to early figures from the statistics office, growth fell to 0.1 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms. Analysts blame a negative trade balance, dwindling consumption and less investment in construction projects.

Reuters