Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the third quarter when adjusted for price, seasonal and calendar effects. This figure, released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Wednesday, confirms the initial estimate that had been published at the end of January.
“Thus ended the economically volatile year 2025 with a rise in economic output” said Destatis President Ruth Brand. “The positive development was driven mainly by private and public consumer spending, but construction investment also gained considerably”. For the full year 2025, the latest calculations confirm a 0.2 percent increase in economic output over the previous year (calendar adjusted: +0.3 percent).
Consumer spending, adjusted for price, seasonal and calendar effects, increased overall by 0.7 percent versus the third quarter. Government spending grew by 1.1 percent, outpacing the 0.5 percent rise in household consumption.
Investment grew again, with construction spending up 1.6 percent compared with the third quarter. Investment in equipment-machinery, devices and vehicles-also rose more than in the prior quarter. After the sharp increase seen in Q3, equipment investment growth flattened, recording only a 0.1 percent rise.
Trade data showed continued positivity. In the fourth quarter of 2025, exports, adjusted for price, seasonal and calendar effects, fell by 0.6 percent compared with the third quarter. The decline was driven by a 0.4 percent drop in goods exports and a 1.2 percent drop in services exports. Imports of goods and services also declined by 0.3 percent, slightly less than the fall in exports. Service imports fell by 1.5 percent, while goods imports edged up by 0.2 percent.
Value added, adjusted for price, seasonal and calendar effects, rose by 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter, after stagnating in the third. The construction industry recorded the largest gain at 1.7 percent, largely due to a positive development in building expansion. The services sector also increased, although trade, transport and hospitality remained essentially unchanged (0.0 percent). Public service, education, health and other services all added 0.8 percent to value added.
Manufacturing value added overall held steady at 0.0 percent versus the previous quarter. Metal and electrical equipment manufacturers saw growth, whereas production in the chemical industry and in machinery manufacturing fell.
When compared with the same quarter last year, GDP in the fourth quarter of 2025 was 0.6 percent higher after price adjustment. If both price and calendar effects are taken into account, the increase is 0.4 percent, partly because the year had 0.7 more working days than the same period the previous year.
