Germany is Stagnating

While some idiosyncratic factors were likely at play, such as below-average water levels on the Rhine, which may have had an impact on energy production and chemical goods output, confidence surveys show that there is a clear underlying weakness in the German industrial sector. On a brighter note, hard data shows that production in the German automotive sector is slowly normalising after the considerable disruption caused by the need to conform to the new worldwide emissions testing protocol last year. Yet the environment for German cars remains challenging.  While the likelihood of US tariffs on German cars has diminished, uncertainty around future prospects for German car exports to the US is likely to continue weighing on sentiment.

While industrial production data points to recession, other hard data and surveys do not. On balance, all the data available so far point to virtually no growth in Q4, but Germany should (just about) avoid a recession.

Looking ahead, fundamentals such as labour market and credit conditions remain healthy, and will continue to support consumer demand. Moreover, fiscal policy will turn more supportive in 2019. But for a trade-oriented manufacturing-heavy economy like Germany’s, the external environment remains key. Uncertainty has not completely disappeared in this regard. German manufacturers were hit by weakening external demand in 2018, notably in key markets like China, but also by global uncertainty stemming from trade tensions and Brexit turmoil. Should trade tensions ease, we might see a rebound in external demand for German goods in early 2019.

Germany Industrial Production and Manufacturing PMI, 2012 - 2018

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