German unemployment reached a post-reunification low in March, official data showed Thursday, but inflation is nonetheless dampening consumption and sentiment in Europe's biggest economy.
The number of unemployed in Germany dropped sharply last month as warmer temperatures and strong order books drove job creation in Europe's biggest economy, official data showed Tuesday.
After months of political wrangling, Germany’s upper house of parliament on Friday finally approved an increase of €5 to Hartz IV welfare benefits. But a separate court decision said those on the dole should expect payment for TVs.
After some eight weeks of difficult talks between the German government and the opposition, both sides reached a deal on reforms to Hartz IV welfare benefits early on Monday morning.
German unemployment climbed last month in absolute terms, official data showed on Tuesday, but dipped to a record low when adjusted for seasonal factors, analysts said.
Germany will grow much faster in 2011 than previously expected, the government said Wednesday, as Europe's top economy continues to motor ahead despite the eurozone debt crisis raging around it.
The number of people receiving jobless benefits can be dramatically slashed next year, saving taxpayers nearly €1 billion, according to German officials.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right coalition suffered a legislative setback on Friday, when the upper house of parliament blocked proposed changes to the country’s Hartz IV welfare benefits. The defeat could delay plans to implement the reforms by January 1.
The German economy, Europe's biggest, should post record growth of 3.6 percent this year followed by expansions of 2.0 percent in 2011 and 1.5 percent in 2012, the central bank forecast on Friday.
Unemployment in Germany fell again in November, official data showed Tuesday, but by less than expected as the strong recovery in Europe's biggest economy slowed.
Germany's economic expansion has slowed slightly in the third quarter, official data released on Friday showed, as Europe's top economy decelerated as expected from record growth.
The number of unemployed has dropped below the key three million level in Germany, Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday, helped by a mix of government measures and reforms.
Germany is again Europe's growth engine, the country's economy minister declared Thursday, as Berlin more than doubled its forecast for output this year and predicted a steady expansion in 2011.
Unemployment in Germany has already sunk well below the political and psychological milestone of 3 million people out of work – the first time it has done so in 18 years – a leading economic institute said Tuesday.
The number of unemployed people in Germany fell twice as fast as expected in September and is now poised to drop below the psychological barrier of 3 million, official data showed on Thursday.
The Labour Ministry admitted on Wednesday it made a numerical error in its draft law on the controversial €5 rise in long-term unemployment benefits, fuelling opposition claims that the new rate has been calculated in a slipshod manner.
The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) vowed on Wednesday to fight Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government coalition plan to reform the Hartz IV welfare system, saying they believe payment calculations are incorrect and possibly even manipulated.
The risk of poverty in Germany is “very high” because the long-term unemployed have little incentive to work, the OECD said Tuesday in a dramatic entry into the Hartz IV debate.
Heartless or sensible? The government’s announcement of a meagre €5-per-month rise in long-term unemployment benefits touches the core of Germany's identity as a welfare state, according to papers in The Local's German Media Roundup on Monday.
Opposition parties and welfare advocates gathered their forces on Monday to launch a major attack on the government’s modest €5-a-month rise in long-term unemployment payments.
German Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday defended her proposed changes to the country’s Hartz IV welfare benefits against criticism from the opposition, which has said the plans are still too vague.
