Economic Growth in Germany
Revised GDP figures show economy entered technical recession in Q1
The statistical office revised down GDP growth in the first quarter to minus 0.3% seasonally adjusted quarter on quarter (preliminary reading: 0.0% s.a. qoq; Q4 2022: -0.5% s.a. qoq). The downward revision means the economy entered a technical recession in Q1.
Household spending contracted at a more moderate pace of 1.2% seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter in Q1 compared to a 1.7% contraction in Q4. Public consumption, meanwhile, contracted at a more pronounced rate of 4.9% in Q1 (Q4 2022: +0.2% s.a. qoq). Additionally, fixed investment growth hit an over two-year high of 3.0% in the first quarter (Q4: -2.6% s.a. qoq).
Exports of goods and services bounced back, growing 0.4% in Q1 (Q4 2022: -1.3% s.a. qoq). In addition, imports of goods and services contracted at a milder rate of 0.9% in Q1 (Q4 2022: -2.4% s.a. qoq).
On an annual basis, economic activity contracted 0.2% in Q1, contrasting the previous period’s 0.2% growth. Q1’s reading marked the largest contraction since Q1 2021.
Looking ahead, 23 of the 28 panelists polled by FocusEconomics expect the economy to rebound in Q2. Private consumption should contract at a softer pace than in the prior quarter, with red-hot inflation cooling gradually.
Germany Economic Growth Chart
This chart displays Economic Growth (GDP, annual variation in %) for Germany from 2013 to 2022.
Germany Economic Growth Data
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Growth (GDP, ann. var. %) | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.1 | -3.7 | 2.6 |