Faltering French and German GDP stokes eurozone concerns

GDP slowed in Germany and declined in France in Q3, fuelling fears the eurozone recovery could be set to falter after weak inflation numbers earlier this month.

German GDP growth for the third quarter was 0.3%, latest figures show, in line with expectations but down from 0.7% in Q2. The US last week warned Germany was not doing enough to stimulate spending, but the country's statistics office said this morning that the Q3 figure was driven by domestic demand. France's GDP, meanwhile, shrunk by 0.1% on the quarter, worse than the 0.1% predicted. The figures, which come ahead of more comprehensive eurozone inflation data later today, hint at a wider slowdown across the continent. High unemployment in Southern Europe is expected to continu...