German exports jump sharply despite economic fears

German exports jumped by a bigger-than-forecast 3.5% in August, adding to signs that Europe''s biggest economy is withstanding the slowdown in global growth, data released Monday showed. According to the German news agency (DPA), analysts had expected the statistics office would say exports gained by a more modest 1.3%. The sharp rise helped to cancel out July''s downwardly revised 1.2% fall. Imports were unchanged after climbing 0.5 per cent in July, the statistics office said. Year-on-year exports surged by 14.6% in August to a total of 85.3 billion euros (115 billion dollars). Year-on-year imports jumped by 12.6% to 75.3 billion euros.