German car scrap scheme lifts private consumption

BERLIN, Aug 27 (Reuters) - A German government subsidy for car scrapping ensured private consumption was in positive territory in the first half of 2009, pushing up spending on autos by nearly a quarter, the Federal Statistics Office said.

Private households in Germany spent 36 billion euros in the first six months of this year, a rise of 23 percent compared with the same period in 2008, the Office said on Thursday.

Overall, private consumption in the first half was up ...