German economic growth slowed to 0.2 per cent last year from 0.6 per cent the previous year, the worst rate in nearly a decade, the Federal Statistics Office said today.
The 2002 GDP reading was the lowest since the 1993 recession when the economy shrank by 1.1 per cent, the Statistics Office said.
"Overall economic developments in Germany in 2002 was disappointing, as in previous years," Statistics Office chief Mr Johann Hahlen said in a statement.
The Office said Germany's budget deficit widened to 3.7 per cent from 2.8 per cent in 2001.
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Export growth slowed to 2.9 per cent in 2002 from 5 per cent in 2001; imports fell 1.3 per cent versus 1 per cent in 2001.