A weak construction sector slowed Germany's economic expansion in the second quarter of this year, but stronger foreign trade and consumer spending showed the economy's underlying health remained sound.
Quarterly growth in Europe's largest economy slowed in the April-June period to 0.3% from 0.5% in the first quarter, the Federal Statistics Office said today, confirming last week's preliminary estimate.
Adjusted for working days, GDP growth was 2.5% on the year, compared with 3.6% in the previous quarter.
Growth in the April-June period was supported by a 0.8 percentage point contribution from foreign trade, the Office said.
Construction investment fell 4.8% on the quarter after rising by 1.4% in the first three months of the year, when a mild winter buoyed the sector during a period when it usually suffers from unfavourable building conditions.
