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German economy in free fall
American Thinker ^ | 9 Aug, 2025 | Thomas Kolbe

Posted on 08/10/2025 5:00:33 AM PDT by MtnClimber

The German economy is sinking far deeper into recession than previously thought. Recent revisions to the national accounts by the Federal Statistical Office paint a dramatic picture.

Quietly and without fanfare, the Federal Statistical Office released new data this week on Germany’s economic output. And, as expected, the figures were revised downward. Instead of shrinking by 0.2% in 2023 as initially reported, Germany’s GDP actually contracted by 0.9%. The outlook for 2024 has also worsened: a projected contraction of 0.5% instead of the previously assumed stagnation.

Three Years of Ongoing Recession

Anyone who still clung to the illusion of stability must now face reality. Germany is stuck deep in its third consecutive year of recession -- and there's no way out in sight. The downturn is deeper than previously assumed, with far-reaching consequences that politicians and media had downplayed.

It’s not unusual for macroeconomic data -- such as GDP, unemployment, or inflation -- to be revised retroactively. These figures are highly aggregated and often based on estimates and projections. It would therefore be unfair to accuse former Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Green Party) of falsifying these numbers. For one, the Ministry of Economic Affairs isn’t the only institution massaging data to suit political interests.

Just think of Germany’s labor market figures, which have been grossly distorted by early retirement schemes, job creation programs, and other manipulations -- rendering them practically meaningless.

Central Planning and Climate Ideology

Still, there is no question that Habeck’s policy approach has inflicted severe damage. His economic policy strictly followed the Green Deal line, aiming to transform fundamental pillars of the German and European economy. At the heart of this centrally planned transformation was the energy sector -- once the engine of German industry. The explosion in energy prices is the ultimate proof

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Germany; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: economy; europe; germany; leftism
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To: SauronOfMordor

Zero doubt they will ban the party before they allow the actual political opposition like the afd to win.


41 posted on 08/10/2025 7:38:41 AM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: fastrock

“Two generations later, that alpha male DNA was diluted to soy-boy DNA.”

same is true of the UK losses in WWI and WWII ... wanton slaughter of the best ... probably a major factor in the fall of the Roman empire, the Greek empire, the Persian empire, and many of the rest, with most fallen empires leaving behind rump nations of little consequence ...


42 posted on 08/10/2025 7:41:40 AM PDT by catnipman ((A Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils Still Counts As A Vote For Evil))
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To: MtnClimber

What’s considered the nation of amazing engineering, now all of their cars are complete expensive high maintenance crap.


43 posted on 08/10/2025 7:43:51 AM PDT by Hammerhead
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To: jimfree

That and immigration, starting with reunification and easterners who did not assimilate.

As goes Germany so goes the EU.


44 posted on 08/10/2025 8:09:46 AM PDT by bigbob (If thou doth eff around, thou wilt findeth out)
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To: bigbob

Germany will be a Turkish colony.


45 posted on 08/10/2025 8:10:17 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: MtnClimber
As the article says, "You can suppress reality for a while. But eventually, it hits with full force. That's exactly where Germany finds itself now."

We were legal residents of Germany for decades, and I worked throughout much of Europe. I attest to the societal decline as well as the Mohamad-izaton of so much of Europe courtesy of Leftist German "thought." Recalling that still-German von der Leyen runs the EU from her un-elected office, and that Germany under Merz wants to finance its war prospects through increasing national debt. I am sad for our old neighbors and freinds.

"You can suppress reality for a while. But eventually, it hits with full force. That's exactly where Germany finds itself now."

46 posted on 08/10/2025 8:12:27 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Hammerhead

What’s considered the nation of amazing engineering, now all of their cars are complete expensive high maintenance crap.

+++++++++

You will get no argument from me. I have bought my last Benz / BMW unless I buy something old-school. Kind of mirrors what happened to Boeing. Get rid of the Engineering backbone that made their products great and supplant with MBA’s, accountants and greenies to usher in the new era of crap.
How can you take a country seriously that cuts down forests to augment the lack of heating oil and gas they themselves have caused? You can not be a first world nation without reliable energy.


47 posted on 08/10/2025 8:25:09 AM PDT by mund1011 (We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality)
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To: MtnClimber

They, like CaCaLand, shut down all their leccy generation. Same result. Prompted by same people.


48 posted on 08/10/2025 8:26:07 AM PDT by bobbo666
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To: MtnClimber

This was the direction the democrats were taking us … growth of government paid for by theft from the private sector.


49 posted on 08/10/2025 8:31:32 AM PDT by johniegrad
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To: MtnClimber

Good.


50 posted on 08/10/2025 8:37:18 AM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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To: fuzzylogic
The one thing the German’s are extremely good at...building combustion engines and cars.

Seriously?! German cars are huge money pits. Why do you think their depreciation rate is so high? I'll take a Japanese vehicle over a German one any day of the week. My Subaru Forester is going on four years old with zero issues. Good luck on that with a German vehicle.

51 posted on 08/10/2025 9:24:37 AM PDT by AlaskaErik (There are three kinds of rats: Rats, Damned Rats, and DemocRats.)
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To: AlaskaErik

Absolutely.


52 posted on 08/10/2025 9:27:49 AM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”)
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To: MtnClimber
Windmills of your mind....
53 posted on 08/10/2025 9:28:34 AM PDT by central_va (The I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Uncle Miltie

Outsourcing their manufacturing to China and India, selling crappy over engineered cars that are prone to expensive failures.


54 posted on 08/10/2025 9:30:29 AM PDT by VTenigma (Conspiracy theory is the new "spoiler alert")
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To: MtnClimber

Germany shuttered, shut down, TURNED OFF all of their electricity generated with nuclear power. France is building more nuclear plants. Smaller modular nuclear power is thought to be one of the ways to power AI.


55 posted on 08/10/2025 9:49:09 AM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try )
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To: AlaskaErik

First, there’s a difference between general reliability and performance. Yes, they require more careful maintenance but are still incredible pieces of engineering. There are loads of performance engines that are far beyond anything from Japan (Nissan GTR is the exception). Add Porsche to the list.

That said, treat them well and they’ll do the same. The problems come when you’re not maintaining them properly, oil changes on time especially. Many of them begin life as lease vehicles and aren’t treated well.

I had a 2005 Mercedes SLK350, in 12 years I had zero problems - it was easily the most reliable car I’ve ever owned. I currently have a 2013 BMW M3 (last year of the V8), no issues except for headlight moisture....and it is an INCREDIBLE vehicle.

Their depreciation rate is high because they’re expensive to begin with, resulting with many being leased, and then not treated well.


56 posted on 08/10/2025 10:04:46 AM PDT by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing of poor moral choices among everybody)
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To: MtnClimber

Have the native Germans come to realize that they are working to support their replacements in a better lifestyle than they have? And are now just giving up because they gave up their God given right of self defense.


57 posted on 08/10/2025 10:48:30 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again," )
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To: Uncle Miltie

Well (so I’m told by a relative who lived there for a while, a few years ago), lots and lots of loveless sex (and few babies)...


58 posted on 08/10/2025 11:19:34 AM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: AlaskaErik

Plus, that Forester was built in Indiana, right?

Subies aren’t perfect by any means, and Subie seems to screw as many things up with each new generation as they fix. Plus they are unnecessarily hard to work on in some respects. But in terms of long term reliability, they are definitely better than average.


59 posted on 08/10/2025 11:25:22 AM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: 9YearLurker
I'd agree. Anything to the plus of a -1% drop in GDP is still only moderately bad performance, IMO. The EU energy deal with the US should help significantly in coming years.

Then again, IMO, the marvel is that the Germans are not doing considerably worse.

60 posted on 08/10/2025 11:33:46 AM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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