Leading research institutes now expect the German economy to contract in 2024, sources told dpa on Tuesday, as headwinds continue to slow Europe’s biggest economy. In a report for the German Economy Ministry due to be published on Thursday, the group of influential organizations is to warn that gross domestic product (GDP) is likely to drop by 0.1% this year. The figure is a drop from the previous forecast of 0.1% growth issued this spring. The biannual study includes contributions from top think tanks such as the Munich-based ifo Institute and the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW)….