Germany's economic engine throttles back over 'what if' uncertainties

Berlin

NERVOUSNESS among buyers of German goods around the world - often over problems that have yet to materialise - is forcing some of the nation's small-and-mid-sized manufacturers to postpone investments, and threatening to stunt economic growth.

These largely family-owned companies of the "Mittelstand", the backbone of German industry, definitely face trouble this year in major export markets, due to an economic slowdown in China and recession in Russia and Brazil.

But much o…