FT: Germany records first monthly trade deficit since 1991 as import costs soar

THE FINANCIAL TIMES reports:

Germany reported its first monthly trade deficit in goods for more than three decades as a result of higher costs for energy imports and disruption to trade with Russia and China.

Soaring energy prices pushed up the value of imports to Europe’s largest economy, while global trade disruption weighed on exports, causing the $1bn deficit in May. “In the past.

Germany could always rely on strong exports to revive the economy and today’s numbers show the trade balance will not return as a positive element for growth for at least the next couple of years,” said Carsten Brzeski, head of macro research at ING.

Exports from Germany fell 0.5 per cent to €125.8bn in May from April, while month-on-month imports increased 2.7 per cent to €126.7bn, according to data released on Monday by the federal statistical agency. The trade deficit was the country’s first since 1991…

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