In August, German industrial outputplunged at its steepest rate since the height of the financial crisis.  Industrial orders are also declining.  What does this mean for Germany?

The year started strong in Germany but contraction has been steeady.  Domestic demand is not growing.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government says it has little wiggle room for stimulus given its promise to balance the federal budget next year, and has attempted to move the focus to private investment. But the IMF said Berlin needed to do more.

Should Germany boost public spending and can it?