German industrial orders show encouraging rise in May

BERLIN — German industrial orders increased by a healthy 4.4 percent in May over the previous month, with demand from outside Europe rising the most strongly, government figures showed Tuesday.

German iron, steel output for June falls 45 percent as recession cuts into demand

FRANKFURT — German iron and steel output for June fell sharply as the world recession continued to cut into demand for the country’s machinery and car exports, the Federal Statistical Office reported Tuesday.

German unemployment rate dips to 8.1 percent in June

FRANKFURT — Germany’s jobless rate edged down to 8.1 percent in June, official figures showed Thursday, posting a weak seasonal improvement as programs to put workers on shorter hours helped stabilize employment amid a serious recession.

German cabinet approves euro86.1 billion in fresh debt in 2010 budget

BERLIN — Germany’s cabinet has approved a budget for 2010 that foresees taking on record debt to help safeguard the country against the global financial crisis, the finance minister said Wednesday.

Survey: German consumer confidence up amid greater confidence in purchasing power, job market

BERLIN — German consumer confidence is rising, helped by an increase in income expectations and a stable job market amid the recession, a survey showed Tuesday. But despite the improvements, research groups continued to slash their growth forecasts, suggesting the downturn is far from over.

Survey: German businesses expect improvement but assess current situation with pessimism

BERLIN — Business confidence in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, dropped to a new all-time low in June but expectations for the future continued to improve, a closely watched survey showed Monday.

Survey: Economic sentiment improves in Germany, Europe’s largest economy

BERLIN — Economic confidence in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, improved for an eighth straight month in June, with a recovery from recession expected to come around the end of the year, a closely watched survey showed Tuesday.

German May inflation rate at zero percent, lowest level in 22 years, as economy suffers

FRANKFURT — Inflation in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, fell to its lowest in 22 years in May as manufacturers’ revenues dropped and business failures increased, the Federal Statistical Office said Wednesday.

German May inflation rate at zero percent; lowest level in 22 years Fed statistics office says

FRANKFURT — Inflation in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, hit zero percent in May, the lowest level in 22 years, the Federal Statistical Office said Wednesday.

German exports plunge in April amid global economic slump

BERLIN — Germany, Europe’s largest economy, saw its exports plunge nearly 30 percent in April as the global economic crisis continued to hurt demand for its products, the Federal Statistical Office reported Tuesday.

Bundesbank: German economy will stagnate in 2010 after 6.2 percent plunge this year

FRANKFURT — Germany’s economy will shrink by 6.2 percent this year and stagnate in 2010, the country’s central bank said Friday, delivering a forecast more pessimistic than the government’s.

German government forecasts economy will shrink 6 percent this year, grow in 2010

BERLIN — The German government forecast Wednesday that the country’s economy — Europe’s biggest — will shrink by a huge 6 percent this year but return to modest growth in 2010.

German consumer confidence stable amid tentative hopes of recovery, survey shows

BERLIN — German consumer confidence remains steady, though lackluster, as low inflation and energy prices combine with tentative hopes that an economic turnaround may be in sight, according to a survey released Monday.

German research groups predict 6 percent drop in 2009 GDP, spike in unemployment

BERLIN — Germany’s economy will shrink by 6 percent this year and will continue to contract in 2010 as its key export sector is hit by the global economic crisis, leading German economic research groups predicted Thursday.

Germany’s economy minister says no need for new stimulus package

BERLIN — Germany’s economy minister said Wednesday there is wide agreement that the country needs no new stimulus package now, even as forecasts for this year’s economic outlook darken.