German economy slowed in 2018, but dodges year-end recession
There were 'signs of a slight recovery' in the fourth quarter
15 January, 12:25German output fell in the third quarter by 0.2 percent, but the dip was attributed to temporary factors such as bottlenecks registering cars under new emissions testing rules. Worsening economic data had raised fears that Germany may have turned another quarter of contraction in the fourth quarter, for which figures will be reported Feb. 14. Two straight quarters of falling output is one definition of a recession. But the statistics agency said there were "signs of a slight recovery" in the fourth quarter compared with the third. Agency official Tanja Mucha said that "we are not assuming a minus" in the fourth quarter. She cautioned that the figures are still preliminary. It was the ninth straight year of annual economic growth in Germany. (AP-ANSA).