
Germany 'gets away with a black eye' as it dodges recession
The German economy has narrowly missed tumbling into recession but recorded output growth of just 0.02% in the final quarter of 2018.In preliminary figures, which could yet be revised, the country's statistics agency said construction and business spending helped Europe's largest economy avoid two consecutive quarters of negative GDP (gross domestic product) growth - a technical recession. Output in the previous three months, July to September, had been measured at -0.2% as demand in Germany's export-led economy tumbled amid the world economic slowdown, mostly linked to China's trade war with the US.The updated figures meant Germany's economy grew at its slowest rate for five years in 2018 as a whole.Production in the country's car industry continued to drag on growth given weaker demand -...