Europe’s economy stagnated at the end of last year as its former growth engine, Germany, finished a second straight year of shrinking output, officials said Thursday. Gross domestic product was flat with a zero increase in the final quarter of 2024 in the 20-nation eurozone,

The stuttering economic performance, coupled with an outlook overshadowed by the risks of trade tension with the U.S. and China, mean that the European Central Bank is almost certain to cut its key interest rates again Thursday, bringing its key deposit rate down to 2.75 percent.

The German government on Wednesday slashed its growth forecasts for 2025 as industry leaders sent dire warnings over the country's economic health and staged nationwide protests to urge reforms.