Germany's unemployment rate at record low in December

German unemployment fell to its lowest rate in December since 1991, according to the German Federal Labour Agency.

The adjusted jobless rate fell to 6.8% from 6.9% in November, the Federal Labour Office said. This marked a new record low since figures for unified Germany were first published.

"Germany's manufacturing and export-driven economy finished the year strongly - piling on another 22,000 jobs in December," said Anthony Cheung of market analysts RANsquawk.

"Behind the strong performance lie some adept moves by Germany's exporters. As their eurozone markets weakened, they have been very good at moving their focus elsewhere.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16390429

Ultra-strong unions, manufacturing wages higher than in the US, national health care and all of other forms of "socialism" don't seem to stop Germany's economy.