Photo: DPALast year the German state hauled in its healthiest budget surplus since reunification over quarter of a century ago. Strong economic growth and low unemployment led the federal government, the German states and local councils to record a total surplus of €23.7 billion, the federal statistics agency (destatis) announced on Thursday. "In absolute terms, this was the highest surplus achieved by general government since German reunification," it said in a statement. In 2015, Europe's top economy ran up a surplus of €19.4 billion or 0.6 percent of GDP. The surplus was thanks largely to a year of strong economic growth.

Source: The Local February 23, 2017 09:00 UTC