GDP up 0.2 in Q3 from Q2; 0.1 decline had been expected
Overall inflation went up to 2.4 from 1.8 in September
Jobless data worse than expected in Europe39;s largest economy
39;Far from what we need but…a ray of hope,39; economy minister says

BERLIN, Oct 30 Reuters Germany39;s gross domestic product unexpectedly increased in the third quarter, skirting a recession, but inflation rose more than expected in October, interrupting the downward trend in Europe39;s troubled largest economy.

This is still far from what we need, but at least it is a ray of hope, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said. The economy is proving more robust than previously forecast and the technical recession expected by many has failed to materialise.

The economy expanded by 0.2 in the third quarter from the previous three months, driven by government and household spending, preliminary data from the federal statistics office showed on Wednesday.

Inflation, however, resurged to 2.4, against a forecast by analysts polled by Reuters of 2.1 this month, after a yearonyear rise in consumer prices of 1.8 in September, based on data harmonised to compare with other European Union countries.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food and energy prices, was at 2.9 in October.

Under the weight of many structural weaknesses, the economy is sending out a sign of life, Alexander Krueger, chief economist at Hauck Aufhaeuser Lampe, said of the new data. This is thanks to consumers, who have…