国际英语新闻：German central bank forecasts economic growth in next two years

BERLIN, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Germany's economy will grow 1.6 percent next year and 1.2 percent in 2011, the country's central bank said Friday in its monthly report.

    "The outlook for the German economy has brightened perceptibly in recent months. Supported by extensive monetary and fiscal policy stimuli, a process of recovery began in the second quarter of 2009 and is expected to continue over the next two years," the Bundesbank said.

    Exports, investment and private consumption would probably become more important in pushing Europe's biggest economy forward, as the effects of government stimulus measures were likely to wane gradually, the central bank said.

    The labor market response to the sharp economic contraction had been extremely subdued to date, it said, adding that an abrupt fall in employment was not to be expected for the next two years, either.

    The labor market was more likely to face a long-term adjustment, it said. Overall, the official unemployment figure would rise from3.4 million this year to 3.8 million in 2010 and 4.2 million in 2011.

    Accompanied with the moderate economic recovery, inflation would also increase slightly but remain at a low level.

    On average, inflation was expected to rise by 0.9 percent in 2010 and 1.0 percent in 2011, compared with a 0.3 percent increase this year, the central bank said.