German unemployment fell significantly more than expected on a seasonally adjusted basis in January.<br /><br />It was at the lowest level in nearly a year, with the number of people out of work down by 28,000 to 2.927 million.<br /><br />The German jobless rate held steady at 6.8 percent – again adjusted for seasonal factors. <br /><br />Economists said mild winter weather was a likely contributor.<br /><br />Germany’s central bank is forecasting the economy will expand “strongly” in the coming months.<br /><br />The Ifo index of business confidence recently hit its highest level in two and half years.<br /><br />Berlin is relying on German domestic demand to continue to prop up economic growth this year as weakness in the global economy weighs on exports.
