Germany keeps 1.7% growth outlook
Print Edition
THE German government yesterday stuck to its economic growth forecast of 1.7 percent for this year, despite a slowdown in emerging markets, as strong domestic demand is replacing exports as the main pillar of Europe’s largest economy.
Robust private consumption, helped by record-high employment and rising real wages, as well as higher state spending on refugees have become the biggest growth drivers in Germany, leading to an economic expansion of 1.7 percent in 2015.
“Germany’s economic upswing will continue this year and next,” Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel told a news conference to present updated German growth forecasts. “Our growth model has become more domestically driven.”
Gabriel pointed to the introduction of a national minimum wage last year and the highest increase in pension entitlements in over two decades this year.
“With this, we have reduced dependencies from external economic risks and created the basis for stable growth also under more difficult global conditions.”
German imports are expected to rise at a faster rate than exports this year and next, Gabriel said, adding other eurozone countries were benefiting from Germany’s strong domestic demand which was drawing more foreign goods.
Turning to monetary policy, Gabriel defended the European Central Bank, saying it was time to stop bashing ECB President Mario Draghi and reach agreements on measures to boost growth.
The government predicts economic growth to slow to 1.5 percent in 2017, partly because of extraneous effects such as more public holidays falling on normal weekdays, Gabriel said.
But he also cited weaker demand from major export destinations such as China and countries in Latin America.
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