German Government Raises 2013 Economic Growth Forecast to 0.5%

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government edged up its growth forecast for Europe’s biggest economy this year, citing what it sees as companies’ willingness to step up hiring.

Germany’s gross domestic product will expand 0.5 percent in 2013, Economy Minister Philipp Roesler said today in a posting on Twitter, lifting a prior prediction of 0.4 percent made in January. The ministry left its growth forecast for 2014 unchanged at 1.6 percent.