This is REALLY strange. Take a look at the two contrasting stories on Germany that have been published this morning.
Story #2 makes absolutely no mention of Germany being on the brink of recession. It's all "Unicorns and rainbows" - as Riana recently described it on another forum - to the article's author!
Think about what it takes for an economy to grow at a relatively blistering 3 percent for the year but to go negative in the final quarter. Talk about falling off the proverbial cliff!
Germany May Be on Brink of Recession
By Jeff Black and Jana Randow - Jan 11, 2012 6:11 AM ET
Bloomberg.com
Germany may be on the brink of recession after the sovereign debt crisis caused the economy to contract in the final quarter of 2011.
Europe’s largest economy shrank “roughly” 0.25 percent in the fourth quarter from the third, the Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden said today in an unofficial estimate.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-11/germany-on-brink-of-recession-as-sovereign-debt-crisis-weighs-on-exports.html
-vs-
Germany's GDP clocks in at 3% growth pace for 2011
Jan. 11, 2012, 4:04 a.m. EST
German economy expanded 3% in 2011
by William L. Watts
FRANKFURT (MarketWatch) -- Germany's gross domestic product grew by 3% in 2011, with most of the expansion occurring in the first half of the year, the federal statistics office, Destatis, reported Wednesday.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/german-economy-expanded-3-in-2011-2012-01-11?dist=beforebell