Germany GDP grows 0.2% in third quarter

Germany's economy grew 0.2 percent in the third quarter of 2026, according to preliminary figures from the statistics agency Destatis.

Analysts surveyed by financial data firm FactSet had forecast 0.1 percent growth for the July-September period.

Destatis said rising public and private spending supported Europe's biggest economy, while exports weakened from the first half of the year and investment declined.

ING economist Carsten Brzeski said Germany was on track for its best growth performance since 2022.

The expansion was slightly weaker than in the first two quarters of the year. Some manufacturers, including chemicals and petroleum products, were affected by transport problems linked to low water levels on key rivers, particularly the Rhine, during summer heatwaves.

Germany's unemployment rate held steady in October at 6.4 percent, according to the employment agency, with the jobs market recovery still sluggish.