Germany: GDP Growth in the Third Quarter

A report released Nov. 24 by the German Federal Statistics Office said the 0.7 percent growth in Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2009's third quarter was driven largely by a turn in the inventory cycle: Inventory restocking added 1.5 percentage points to GDP. Germany's economic growth is unlikely to continue, however, and Berlin might have to consider additional stimulus measures, including stoking domestic demand and potentially driving down the euro — all of which could lead to greater social discontent.