Moody’s has reported in its latest ‘Metro Area Outlook’ that despite the overall German slowdown, Berlin is continues to expand. The analytical firm reports: ‘Tourism continues to be an important driver, with the number of overnight stays in the third quarter rising to 8.4m, a 5% increase from the same period last year. The service industry is also performing well, with employment growth in tech-oriented fields such as information and communication trending steadily upward. Berlin’s unemployment rate fell to 10.4% in November, the lowest since October 1991 and 0.3% lower than in October.

‘Longer term, the opening of the long-awaited Berlin-Brandenburg airport continues to be delayed. The failure to complete the project in a timely way forced Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit to resign after 13 years in office. When it does open, the new facility should significantly boost the metro area’s capacity as a transportation hub.’