Merkel Economy Scorecard Shows Steinbrueck Struggle

German economic figures show the uphill struggle Peer Steinbrueck faces to unseat Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sept. 22 elections.

Since Merkel succeeded Gerhard Schroeder in 2005, unemployment has dropped to near a post-reunification low, the budget deficit has been virtually eliminated and workers have more money in their pockets. Investors are accepting negative real returns to lend money to the federal government.