Germany economic recovery still on track

The weak start of the biggest European economy to the year 2013 will not jeopardize its recovery, the German central bank said Monday in its monthly report. "The slow start into 2013 does not put into question the prospect of a recovery of economic activity," the Frankfurt-based Bundesbank said in its report, admitting that the economy fell short of expectations raised by calmer financial markets and improved sentiment among companies. Although German industrial orders and output declined unexpectedly in January, the central bank said the economy was still on track to recovery. The Bundesbank has predicted a 0.4-percent growth of the German economy in 2013. Despite the difficulties in many European partner countries, the German economy was still in good shape. After a contraction of 0.6 percent in the final quarter of 2012, the German economy is perking up again as the central bank said recently it expected the economy to expand in the current quarter. The prospect of a return to growth is cemented by a series of rosy data issued recently. German consumer confidence will rise for a second month in March, market research group GfK said recently. In addition, companies also expect a strong recovery in the German economy. The Ifo Business Climate Index for industry and trade rose in February by more than three points, the strongest increase since July 2010. Meanwhile, German unemployment fell in February for a third month in a row, as economic expectations for the eurozone powerhouse kept brightening, figures issued by Federal Labor Agency showed last month. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was at 6.9 percent in February, just a tad above the 6.8 percent record low in post-reunification history. Jens Weidmann, president of the Deutsche Bundesbank, said at the bank's annual balance sheet press conference last week that growth could be expected to become stronger as the year progresses.