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

Yup. Even if they don't and the AfD wins, they have the entire weight of both Berlin and Brussels bureaucracies to try to move against. The EU doesn't possess a formal right to overturn member states' elections, but Former European Commissioner Thierry Breton raised some eyebrows when he said "we did it in Romania and we will obviously do it in Germany if necessary," referring to the annulment of Romania's 2024 presidential election due to alleged foreign interference. So who knows?

61 posted on 08/10/2025 11:46:32 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: MtnClimber

Need more muslims..


62 posted on 08/10/2025 11:47:58 AM PDT by unread
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To: Paul R.

They still have a skilled, talented and dedicated workforce. But take away the easy energy for their industry and add in all the political crap...


63 posted on 08/10/2025 12:25:06 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: 9YearLurker

That’s true.


64 posted on 08/10/2025 3:07:48 PM 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: montag813

95% of all “immigrants” are on welfare. The few that actually work are running scam NGOs that collect tax dollars to give out to the welfare slobs.


65 posted on 08/10/2025 3:43:28 PM PDT by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower. )
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To: Paul R.
Plus, that Forester was built in Indiana, right?

Nope, made in Japan.

66 posted on 08/10/2025 4:28:04 PM PDT by AlaskaErik (There are three kinds of rats: Rats, Damned Rats, and DemocRats.)
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To: FLT-bird

Old bumper sticker seems more true every day;

“If voting could actually change anything
It would be illegal too”


67 posted on 08/11/2025 6:07:49 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor (You’ve not seen the darkness in the hearts of men who realize no one is coming to save them.)
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To: mac_truck

Maybe more Islamic immigration will “help”???


68 posted on 08/13/2025 8:14:16 AM PDT by Words Matter
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To: jimfree

The German nuke plant dilemma comes down to the 1990s question....where do you dump radioactive waste? Merkel was the key player (under Kohl) to come down and say...you can’t fix this. You tie in Fukishima and the rest is history.

Oddly, most of the neighbors of Germany continue to have nuke plants, and on occasion...because they can’t produce enough power...Germany has to buy ‘dirty’ nuke energy, at a hefty rate, from the neighbors.

Add to this economic burden? Covid, Ukraine-war, cutting off cheap Russian natural gas, China stealing German intellectual property, and climate change phobia...you have a society that can’t get itself out of a spiral.


69 posted on 08/15/2025 1:37:48 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: pepsionice

Great summary, pepsi. The memory of Merkel’s decision stuck with me. I saw it then as a death blow to German industry.


70 posted on 08/15/2025 1:47:46 AM PDT by jimfree (My 22 y/o granddaughter continues to have more quality exec experience than Joe Biden.)
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To: jimfree

It’s a funny story how Merkel is brought in. Kohl saw the wall collapsing...knew that unification would occur, and told his CDU folks...find me someone who could represent the CDU from old East Germany.

Weeks go by and they come back. Lot of possibilities but most folks are connected strongly to the old Communist Party, or they seem incompetent. But they had this one name....Merkel. So they bring her to Kohl, and there’s a chat.

Kohl’s commentary is not really that known, but he seemed to sense she was dressed in some in 1970s attire (way out of fashion), and that she was more of a professor than a politician.

But she was accepted and branded ‘CDU’. The rest is history. The party folks got her to some fashion upgrade, and found a job as the Energy Minister.

When Kohl’s scandal broke...the 20-odd people around him....were mixed in with various guilt elements. Merkel wasn’t....mostly because they kept seeing her as a outsider. In a matter of 100 days...she moved from being an outsider...to being the only one left who seemed scandal-free.

It always reminded me of the Peter Sellers movie...’Being There’. Germans valued scandal-free to be a highly quality, than your typical politician.


71 posted on 08/15/2025 2:27:42 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: FLT-bird

Latest poll has AfD ahead of the “mainstream” conservative party. It’s now the most popular German party. This means EU will redouble efforts to ban them.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/trump-backed-populist-party-tops-polls-first-time-following-trend-other-allied-countries


72 posted on 08/15/2025 1:46:42 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor (You’ve not seen the darkness in the hearts of men who realize no one is coming to save them.)
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To: catnipman

catnipman
“Roman empire, the Greek empire, the Persian empire, and many of the rest”

I had not thought of DNA dilution in the fall of previous empires.
Certainly could be n if not dilution, then certainly a contributing factor to their fall.
Europe and Eurasia over the centuries have certainly had their share of ‘tribal’ wars.

There’s a better word for ‘tribal’ but I can’t think of it.


73 posted on 08/15/2025 2:17:30 PM PDT by fastrock
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