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German government halves 2019 growth forecast to 0.5%

(ANSA-AP) - BERLIN, 17 APR - The German government has slashed its 2019 economic growth forecast for the country for the second time this year and is now predicting growth of only 0.5%. Wednesday's forecast halves the 1% estimate the government presented in late January, when it cut its forecast from 1.8%. It follows a string of downgrades by economists and other groups. Economy Minister Peter Altmaier predicted growth of 1.5% in 2020. Prospects for Germany, Europe's biggest economy, have been weighed down by weaker growth elsewhere and by the after-effects of its own weak performance at the end of last year, when it was dragged down largely by one-time factors related to new car emissions standards. Last year, gross domestic product expanded by 1.4%. (ANSA-AP).