Germany today cut its 2012 GDP (gross domestic product) forecast to 0.7% compared with 1% estimated in October. Dr. Philipp Rösler, vice chancellor and federal minister of economics and technology, said: "Germany is and remains an anchor for stability and growth in Europe after two exceptionally high-growth years, the German economy remains in a robust state. Due to the difficult external economic environment, we expect a temporary dip in growth in the winter months. However, we are firmly convinced that the German economy will regain the year again to higher growth. This is largely the very positive triad of rising employment, rising incomes and stable prices."