German Q1 GDP revised up to 2.5-year high

(Sharecast News) - Germany's economy performed better than expected in the first quarter, with growth unexpectedly picking up, according to revised estimates from the Federal Statistics Office on Friday. Gross domestic product expanded by 0.4% over the first three months of 2025, compared with the initial estimate of 0.2% growth released last month.

This compares with the 0.2% economic contraction registered in the fourth quarter of 2024 and marked the strongest quarterly growth rate since the third quarter of 2022.

"Growth was slightly higher than predicted in the first estimate due to the surprisingly good economic development seen in March," said Ruth Brand, president of Destatis.

"In particular, output in manufacturing and exports registered stronger growth than initially assumed."

Foreign trade increased "substantially" in the first quarter, the report showed, with total exports of goods and services up 3.2% compared with a subdued fourth quarter.

Frontloading of shipments was thought to be the reason behind the surge, with exports pharmaceutical products and of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers - both significant export goods for the US market - rising strongly.

Meanwhile, household consumption was also strong, rising 0.5% after a 0.2% increase in the preceding three months.