[Osem]

Germany's economy barely grew in the first quarter of 2013 as exports and investment shrank, figures show.

But higher domestic consumption - thanks to rising wages - helped offset the declines in foreign trade and capital investment, raising hopes it will help drive a sustained recovery.

Gross domestic product rose 0.1% from the previous quarter, but contracted 1.4% compared with a year earlier.

The figure showed the economy narrowly avoided falling into a recession.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22651193