Germany avoids recession as concerns over powerhouse economy linger

Manufacturing sector reeling from higher energy costs, surging interest rates and subdued foreign demand

Economists predict minimal growth in the first half of 2024, a year that’s kicked off with train strikes and countrywide protests by German farmers.

Germany continued to dodge a recession in the wake of the energy crisis, despite shrinking in 2023 and this year set to bring only a meagre rebound.

GDP fell 0.3% between October and December, according to preliminary estimates, but with the previous three months revised slightly higher, Europe’s largest economy avoided two straight quarters of contraction.