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Recovery is Gaining Some Momentum

Press Release of December 18, 2013

In 2013 the German economy will grow at 0.4 percent which is below the growth rate of potential output. The output gap is 0.5 percent. In 2014 gross domestic product will expand at 1,6 percent and the output gap will nearly be closed. In 2015 the economy will grow above trend at a rate of 2 percent.

The pace of expansion of the world economy has accelerated in the third quarter. Advanced economies contributed more and more to the recovery. The cyclical upturn builds mostly on the revival of private consumption which profits from gradual improvements of labour market conditions and still low rates of inflation. In addition, growth in emerging markets accelerated notably; in particular China and India grew dynamically. Despite the expected start of tapering of unconventional measures in the US, the stance of global monetary policy will remain very expansionary. Moreover, fiscal policy will be less contractionary. Over the course of time, diminishing policy uncertainty will spur investment. Gradual improvements of labour market conditions will revive private consumption. All in all, the global economy will grow at rates of about 4 percent in 2014 and 2015. The German economy continued its recovery. However, production will expand only modestly in the final quarter of 2013. German exports will revive as part of the global recovery. As we go along, this in turn spurs investment which will peak at the turn of the year 2014/2015. Then, the overall economy will grow at potential and will decelerate somewhat thereafter.

In light of the recovery, the creation of new jobs will continue, although at a declining rate. Unemployment will increase as the work force grows - mainly due to migration. In 2014 the rate of unemployment will be at 7 percent and will be slightly above that in 2015. As a result of new jobs created, wages will rise.However, since labour supply will not be scarce, mainly due to migration, the rise of wage will be modest. At a rate of 1,3 percent, low inflation props up purchasing power of private households. As the output gap narrows and consumption rises, inflation will rise gently to 1,6 percent in 2014 and to 1,7 percent in 2015.

In 2013, the overall public budget is marginally in surplus of 0.2 percent relative to nominal gross domestic product. In 2014 the budget will be nearly balanced, in 2015 the surplus is 0.7 percent.

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