Germany Leads The Way In Eurozone Recovery

Once again, Germany has emerged as the powerhouse of the eurozone as its economy picks up the pace alongside a withering euro. The nation's 4th quarter GDP increased 0.7 percent last year; and a breakdown of the figures showed that domestic demand, typically a stumbling block for the German economy, was improving. Home Improvement German consumers are becoming more and more likely to loosen their pursestrings as falling gas prices and increasing wages have relieved some of the financial strain families were facing. The improving morale was especially evident in Germans' growing interest in home improvement. A survey showed that German families spent €39.3 billion €39.3 billion renovating their homes in 2014, and that figure is only expected to increase in the coming year. Analysts are expecting the number of bank loans designated for home improvement to out pace that of any other loan category in 2015. Exporters Cheering Weak Euro German companies relying on exports are also on track to have a bumper year as the euro's decline has made their products much more competitive around the world. German automaker like Daimler AG, which produces Mercedes-Benz cars, is likely to see the demand for its vehicles increase in the US, where a strong dollar has made foreign cars much more attractive. Additionally, the demand for new cars has been on the rise as significantly lower gas prices prompt families to drive more often and worry less about fuel consumption.