Germany’s February imports, exports slump

BERLIN: German imports fell sharply in February for the third time in the last four months and exports also declined, in a sign the eurozone's largest economy cannot be relied on to help lift the currency bloc out of recession.

Data from the Federal Statistics Office yesterday showed imports sliding 3.8%, undercutting even the lowest estimate in a Reuters poll of economists. The consensus forecast had been for imports to rise 0.5%.