Germany’s economic expansion eased in the second quarter of 2026, with gross domestic product (GDP) growing by 0.2% quarter-over-quarter, down from 0.3% in the first quarter of the year. The latest figures, updated on 30 July 2026, point to a modest loss of momentum in Europe’s largest economy.
On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the current 0.2% reading compares the second quarter to the first quarter of 2026, while the previous 0.3% figure reflected growth from the fourth quarter of the prior period to the first quarter of 2026. The slowdown suggests that while Germany remains on a growth path, the pace of expansion is softening relative to the start of the year.
Investors and policymakers will be watching upcoming data closely to gauge whether the second-quarter cooling is a temporary pause or an early sign of more persistent weakness in Germany’s growth trajectory.
