The German economy continues to grow. In the second quarter of 2018, the gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.5% on the previous quarter after adjustment for price, seasonal and calendar variations. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that GDP growth in the first quarter of 2018 had been slightly smaller (+0.4%).

The quarter-on-quarter comparison (price-, seasonally and calendar-adjusted) shows that positive contributions came from domestic demand. Final consumption expenditure of both households and general government increased. Capital formation was up, too. There was a slight increase in fixed capital formation in machinery and equipment, in construction and in other fixed assets compared with the first quarter of 2018. According to provisional calculations, the price-adjusted development of foreign trade was characterised by increasing exports and an even stronger rise in imports.