Power Economy

The economy ended 2006 on a solid note, with data released showing fourth-quarter growth coming in at a real 0.9 per cent and the nation's budget deficit shrinking last year more than expected.

The statistics office said Germany's budget deficit, at 1.7 percent of GDP, was lower than the predicted 2 percent. It was the first time in five years that Europe's biggest economy has met the strict 3-per-cent deficit rule for euro member states.

Exports, consumption are higher

Powered by a robust export performance and a pickup in private consumption, the healthy fourth-quarter economic growth rate helped to underpin Germany's stronger than forecast 2.7 percent expansion rate in 2006.