The German economy shrank in the fourth quarter of 2023, with gross domestic product (GDP) falling by 0.3% compared to the previous quarter, according to preliminary government data released on Tuesday. The figure was adjusted for price, calendar and seasonal affects, the Federal Statistical Office said. The preliminary figures matched earlier estimates from the agency. Germany’s economy, the largest in the European Union, fell into recession in 2023, shrinking by an estimated 0.3% during the full year as the country was battered by high inflation, high interest rates and sluggish global deman…