Germanys second-quarter growth

Germany’s economic growth in the second quarter was driven by consumption and a rebound in investment as a recovery in the 17-nation euro area, its biggest trading partner, Businessweek reported on Friday. Capital investment rose 1.9 percent from the three months through March, the first expansion in three quarters, and consumption increased 0.5 percent, data from the Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden showed. Gross domestic product climbed 0.7 percent in the period, the office said. The economy grew 0.5 percent from a year earlier. Investment in plant and machinery climbed 0.9 percent in the second quarter, the first increase since 2011, today’s report showed. Construction output surged 2.6 percent. Household spending gained 0.5 percent and government consumption was up 0.6 percent. Domestic demand added 0.5 percentage point to growth, while net trade contributed 0.2 percentage point. Exports rose 2.2 percent and imports advanced 2 percent.