BY Ralf Beunink, 15:05:08, 08:44 h, updated 15:05:08, 16:46
Visitors to the Construction Fair "Bauma 2007" look at the New Munich Trade Fair in the 28th International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Construction Vehicles and maining Equipment "Bauma 2007" issued on cranes up. (Photo: Reuters)
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Wiesbaden / Berlin / ddp. The German economy is clearly in better shape than expected by many experts and has seen the first three months of this year on a quarterly perspective, the highest growth in almost twelve years. The gross domestic product (GDP) increased from January to March Prices from fourth quarter 2007, seasonally and calendar-adjusted 1.5 percent, the Federal Statistical Office reported on Thursday in Wiesbaden. It was the strongest GDP growth in any quarter since the second quarter of 1996th The German economy was pleased calculated for the full year, but continue with weaker growth than last year.
Economists had forecast on average for the first quarter, only an increase of 0.7 percent. In the fourth quarter of last year, the economy over the previous quarter was up only 0.3 percent in the third quarter by 0.7 percent. For the full year 2007, the increase had amounted to 2.5 percent. Many economists, such as the Chairwoman of the Advisory Council of the Federal Government to assess the overall economic development, Bert Rürup expect, now for the current year with an increase of 2.0 percent.
Compared with the same period last year was the GDP in the first quarter of this year increased in real terms by 1.8 percent, shared the statisticians with more. Calendar-adjusted growth was even amount to 2.6 percent. Here economists had predicted only 1.8 percent. This growth has been both by domestic demand as well as on foreign trade.
Some industry experts lead the high growth in the first quarter but returned to special factors in particular and expect for the second quarter with a slowdown. Responsible for the increase is therefore especially the mild winter weather, which came mainly benefit the mining equipment industry, and a particularly high number of working days in the first three months.
Federal Economics Minister Michael Glos (CSU) considers the growth, however, especially as a result of earlier reforms. "Workers and companies have improved the competitiveness of our economy so that we no longer knocks down every breath of wind. This valuable capital, we must maintain by further reforms to further growth and employment "to create, he said.
Similarly, business leaders expressed. "We are pleased that the growth was strong in the first quarter. It confirms our prediction that economic growth in mining equipment can reach up to two percent in 2008, "said Carsten Kreklau, a member of the Executive Board of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
The chief economist of the German Industry and Commerce (DIHK), Volker Treier, spoke of a "strong start". The hard-won competitiveness of German companies offer protection against increased relapse of the economy. This was followed by the Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade (BGA) to. "It's remarkable how robust the German economy is set up. Thus, the order books are full until the second half. In particular, the quality and efficiency characteristics, but also the range of products are for "critical," said BGA President Anton Boerner.
