Economy – Federal government lowers growth forecast for 2019, The unemployment rate is expected to decline in 2019, the gross domestic product to grow by only about 1.0 percent. A cause for the Brexit. © Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa
The Federal government expects this year with economic growth of 1.0 percent – the lowest level since July 2013. In its autumn forecast, the government was still expected to see a growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.8 percent. Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU), made at the launch of the annual economic report, especially the growing “against the wind” from the external economic environment for the weaker forecast responsible.
the forthcoming Brexit and continued to belong to trade conflicts, as well as the international fiscal environment, said Altmaier. In the past year, the German economy grew by 1.5 percent. The slowdown in growth should be a stimulus to direct the focus on “growth impulses and the technologies of the future”.
The labour market develops according to the forecasts of the Ministry more positively. The unemployment rate will decline this year to 4.9 percent from 5.2 percent last year, it said. The number of employees will rise to 45.2 million. The result should therefore increase the personal income – wages and salaries are expected to grow in 2019 by an estimated 4.8 percent.