Cautious consumers contribute to fastest period of growth
German industry suffered badly last year but as the euro has weakened, the country's exports have grown at a rapidly increasing rate.
The success of Germany's industry contrasts starkly with the UK's economic model – where more than three-quarters of the labour force works in the service sector and industry accounts for only 12.4 per cent of GDP. In Germany, the figure is almost 22 per cent.
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Hide AdBut exports have not been the only driver for Germany this year – its traditionally cautious consumers appear to have been spending more freely in the high streets during 2010 – a factor that seems to have surprised some analysts.