Germany falls into recession as inflation hits economy

Persistent inflation has helped push Germany into recession in the first three months of the year.

The federal statistics agency Destatis said the economy contracted by 0.3 per cent between January and March.

That followed a 0.5 per cent contraction in the last three months of last year.

Analysts say Europe's largest economy was also badly affected when Russian gas supplies dried up after the invasion of Ukraine.

A country is deemed to be in recession when its economy shrinks for two consecutive three-month periods, or quarters.