FXStreet reports that economists at Deutsche Bank note that the German economy has proven to more resilient than expected as 2020 GDP fell by 5.0% and they keep their 2021 GDP forecast at +4.5%.

“Germany has – so far – mastered the pandemic much better than other large EMU countries. According to the first estimate by Federal Statistical Office, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a GDP decline of 5.0% in 2020 (consensus -5.2%), which is – contrary to concerns back in spring – less than the -5.7% decline recorded in 2009.”

“We keep our +4.5% GDP forecast for 2021. While the economy seems to have performed better towards the end of last year, as suggest by the smaller-than-expected annual decline in 2020, the outlook for Q1 has become more clouded, given the extension of the lockdown until the end of January and – more importantly – indications by key politicians that at least some of the measures could be extended until Easter, given the unabated pandemic.”