the german economy contracted in the fourth quarter of 2022 by more than initially estimated as inflation and higher energy costs weighed on consumer spending germanys gross domestic product contracted by an adjusted 04 from the previous threemonth period according to a second estimate released friday by german statistics office destatis the figure was lowered from the first estimate which showed the economy contracted 02 economists polled by the wall street journal had also forecast a 02 contraction after sequential increases in gdp in the first three quarters of 2022 the german economy markedly lost momentum in the final three months destatis said inflation weighed on consumer spending with household consumption expenditure down 10 in the fourth quarter destatis said the contraction came after a programs including a fuel discount and subsidised rail fares ended it added gdp expanded 09 in the fourth quarter compared with the same period a year earlier destatis said below the 11 forecast by economists polled by the wall street journal and the first estimate