The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that, in the third quarter of 2017, the gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.8% on the second quarter of 2017 after adjustment for price, seasonal and calendar variations. In the first half of 2017, the GDP had also increased markedly, by 0.6% in the second quarter and 0.9% in the first quarter.

The quarter-on-quarter comparison (upon adjustment for price, seasonal and calendar variations) shows that positive contributions came for instance from foreign trade. In the third quarter of 2017, the increase in exports was higher than that of imports. Arithmetically, the balance of exports and imports had a positive effect on the GDP in a quarter-on-quarter comparison.