The German economy grew by a solid 0.5% during the third quarter, largely thanks to higher consumer spending, official figures showed today.

GERMAN investor confidence fell to the lowest level in more than two-and-a-half years in September as Europe’s debt crisis and a global slowdown damped the outlook for growth.

INVESTOR confidence in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, dropped to the lowest in two-and-a-half years in June as the region’s debt crisis dimmed the economic outlook.

The ZEW economic research has fallen for the fifth month in a row to its lowest level since July 2003.

GERMAN investor confidence fell the most in 16 months in March, exacerbated by the bombings in Madrid, amid concern about the strength of a recovery in Europe’s largest economy, the ZEW Centre for European Economic Research said.

Analysts and institutional investors' optimism in the German economy fell slightly in February as concerns over the appreciating euro currency continued.

German economic research group Zew is more optimistic about German economic recovery as important business indicators point to positive trends.

A key indicator for German economic sentiment has increased again in November to reach an annual high.