German Economics Minister Sees 1.6% Growth This Year

BERLIN: Economics Minister Werner Mueller said Sept. 8 he expected the German economy to expand by 1.6%, but warned that growth figures for the 2nd quarter would be "relatively bad." Mueller described as "nonsense" a report in Der Spiegel magazine that said his ministry actually anticipated a growth rate of 1.3% this year. Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with German craftsmen here, he said Spiegel had misrepresented an internal ministry worst-case-scenario forecast. Mueller added that providing growth actually reached 1.6% this year, a growth rate of 2.5% to 2.7% was realistic next year.