Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsNick Read appears before Horizon inquirySome good news for the German economy, the biggest in Europe: exports unexpectedly rose in August thanks to strong demand from the UK and US.Exports increased by 1.3% in August compared with the previous month, according to data from the federal statistics office. Economists had expected a 1% decline. Germany’s foreign trade surplus widened to €22.5bn from €16.9bn in July, boosted by a sharp drop in imports, down by 3.4%.The second slightly increase in exports in a row is a small glimmer of hope, but no reason to sound the all-clear.Fundamental improvements are urgently needed in Germany as a business location if the German export engine is to pick up in the long term. Continue reading...