The Economy

GDP

The quarter-on-quarter comparison of gross domestic product (GDP) showed a large 1.5% increase in the first quarter of 2008 (on the fourth quarter of 2007), following price, seasonal and calendar adjustment.
(Source: German Federal Statistics Office)

Exports

Germany has maintained its position as the world's top exporter, selling almost one trillion euros ($1.5 trillion) worth of goods abroad in 2007, according to the Federal Statistics Office, compared with China's $1.22 trillion.
(Source: BBC)

Business Confidence

The Munich-based Ifo economic institute said its monthly business climate index, based on a survey of 7,000 German executives, rose to 103.5 points from 102.4 in April 2008.
(Source: Ifo)

Employment

According to provisional results of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the number of people in employment whose place of employment was in Germany amounted to about 39.8 million in the first quarter of 2008. Compared to the first quarter of 2006, the number of persons in employment in Germany hence rose by 1.4 million or 3.7% as a result of the continued job growth linked to economic development. In the service sector alone, a total of 1.1. million (+3.8%) additional jobs were created in the past two years. In that period, strong employment gains were also recorded in industry (including energy) and construction (+218,000 persons/+2.8% and +104,000 persons/+5.1%, respectively),

The economic performance in the first quarter of 2008 was achieved by 39.8 million persons in employment, which was an increase of 686,000 persons or 1.8% on a year earlier.
(Source: Destatis)