So how well is Germany doing?

German Economic Growth Fails to Gain Impetus (WSJ) Germany’s gross domestic product expanded 0.4% in 2013, following growth of 0.7% in 2012, the Federal Statistics Office said on Wednesday. The economy grew 0.5% when taking account of the number of working days each year. Based on the full-year figures, GDP increased around 0.25% in the three months through December about the same rate as the third quarter according to the statistics office, which is due to publish fourth-quarter national accounts in mid-February. Germany’s growth last year relied on domestic demand, as private consumption rose 0.9% and government spending increased 1.1%, the statistics office said. Net trade, however, reduced GDP growth, as exports the traditional driver of economic growth in Germany increased a meager 0.6%, while imports climbed 1.3%. Corporate investment was weak too, with spending on machinery and equipment down 2.2% from a year earlier.