Carsten Brzeski

German business morale dipped slightly in August but stayed close to last month's all-time high, a closely-watched survey said on Aug. 25, adding to a run of good news for Europe's powerhouse economy ahead of a general election.

The Munich-based Ifo institute said its business confidence index fell to 115.9 points this month after reaching an all-time peak of 116 points in July.

Strong household spending, rising state expenditure and higher company investments consolidated Germany's role as the eurozone growth engine in the second quarter, although accelerating imports meant growth came in just below expectations.

Germany's trade surplus grew in June, official figures showed on Aug. 8, while sabre rattling continues in Washington and Brussels over possible U.S. protectionist moves.

Industrial output surged in August in three of the eurozone's top economies, data released on Oct. 7 showed, providing evidence to of a rebound from the Brexit vote shock.

Meanwhile output unexpectedly dropped in Britain after having initially held up following the June vote to leave the European Union.

German business confidence has increased dramatically in November, shrugging off the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the recent attacks in Paris, a leading economic think tank says German business confidence bounced back in November as Europe's top economy shrugged off global uncertainty and the deadly jihadist assault in Paris, a leading economic think tank said yesterday. 

Growth in the eurozone strengthened to 0.4 percent in the first quarter, official EU data showed on May 13, with a surprising performance by France where the economy exceeded powerhouse Germany's.

Cash-strapped Greece had been hoping that the European Central Bank -- which is about to pump billions into the eurozone economy -- would help ease its torment, but so far the ECB has been markedly reluctant to come to its aid.

These are the key issues over which they are at loggerheads:

By Stefan Riecher

The euro-area economy has taken a step in the right direction.

By Stefan Riecher

The euro-area economy has taken a step in the right direction.