The final revision of Germany’s second-quarter [B]Gross Domestic Product[/B] is expected to confirm that output grew 0.3% in the three months through June, the first positive result after four consecutive quarters of losses. The annual rate of contraction is also expected to be confirmed at -5.9%, the first improvement in the year-on-year metric since the end of 2007. Despite the seemingly positive tone of the headline figure, the comparative picture of German growth is far from favorable. A survey of economists conducted by Bloomberg suggests that the Euro Zone’s largest economy, and by extension the region as a whole, will underperform most industrialized countries at least through the end of next year. The most pronounced differentials are seen against commodity-linked counties (Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) as well as the United States. A slower pace of economic growth will mean that Europe lags behind the curve as central banks begin to raise interest rates at the onset of the global recovery, a prospect that bodes ill for the single currency.