India, Jan. 30 -- The German economy logged an unexpected contraction in the fourth quarter on weaker exports amid cyclical and structural headwinds, preliminary data from Destatis showed Thursday.
Gross domestic product fell 0.2 percent from a quarter ago, confounding expectations for an expansion of 0.1 percent. This follows a 0.1 percent sequential growth in the third quarter.
Detailed results of GDP for the fourth quarter will be released only on February 25. However, Destatis said household and government consumption increased in the fourth quarter, while exports were significantly lower than in the third quarter.
On a yearly basis, GDP slid by calendar-adjusted 0.2 percent after falling 0.3 percent a quarter ago. Economists had for...