Is Germanys economy recovering?
By Tim Weber Business editor, BBC News website, reporting from Germany Germany’s economy, once the engine of European prosperity, is one of the eurozone’s worst performers – so what are the prospects for a recovery? Could the real German economy please step forward? The country is the world’s leading exporter, selling goods worth 733bn euro ($920bn, 500bn) a year and growing. Profits at Germany’s large companies are soaring. Business confidence is also improving – several respected surveys suggest company bosses are getting bullish about the future. “Perhaps we are now seeing the spark from exports firing up the economy,” says Wolfgang Franz, president of the ZEW economic think tank. And yet, after travelling through the country – listening to people, politicians and companies, and following the media – one would assume that Germany is on the blink. It’s the economy, stupid German voters go to the polls on 18 September, and Bill Clinton’s election mantra of 1992 – “It’s the economy, st
