German economy to slow after second-quarter rebound

The German economy is forecast to slow after a strong second-quarter, the Bundesbank said on Monday according to dpa. "With regards to the summer quarter, the signs of a slowdown in economic growth are becoming more evident, in line with the general trend," the central bank said in its monthly report. It gave no growth or contraction figures. It said it believed industry and construction made important contributions to the rebound in the second-quarter. The German economy, Europe's largest, made a weak start to 2013, growing by 0.1 per cent in the first quarter. This has been blamed on the long winter hitting sectors like construction, and the financial crisis in the eurozone. Surveys show that employers in Germany are looking to the future with increased confidence.