11/01/2012 World Business Report

ahead sooner rather than later. A dark clouds gathering over

A dark clouds gathering over A dark clouds gathering over

Germany's economy? -- A.re -- are. The economic engine of Europe could

be running out of steam. Germany? Latest growth figures.

Timothy Geithner goes to China. When two screens are better than

one. The latest from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Despite the challenges posed by eurozone debt crisis, you have's

largest economy, Germany, had a successful 2011. -- the EU's

largest economy. But the next couple of years could be different.

One consultancy group is forecasting a recession in Germany

in 2012 and 2013. Last here, many German exporters

enjoyed the open road of success as some companies achieved a 14% rise

in sales. Record numbers of vehicles were sold. But over the

last few months, less than goods have been leaving German factories.

Global demand is decreasing. One pessimistic forecast suggests that

in 2012, the German economy is likely to contract by 0.5%. Things

get worse in 2013, with a possible contraction of 1.5%. The eurozone

debt crisis is likely to continue and get worse. And we will see the

eurozone break up later this year, holding serious ramifications for

Germany. Despite sales to emerging markets

in North America, Germany remains vulnerable to a downturn in Europe.

60% of its exports go there. 50% going to the eurozone. Other

analysts are less pessimistic about Germany, but many do accept that a

slowdown in growth can be expected. China and the US have promised to

co-operate on boosting the global economic recovery.

Timothy Geithner said that his first priority on his trip to the

Chinese mainland was to improve development of relations between

the two countries. He says that will be conducive to the recovery

of the US and world economy. His Chinese counterpart called the

visit significant for the stability and development of economic

relations and the development of bilateral ties between the two

countries in 2012. However, the currency issue was sidestepped in

their meeting. Voices from critics in the US are growing ever louder,

putting pressure on China, saying that currency controls undervalue

the Chinese yuan, giving its exporters and unfair advantage.

China's trade surplus with the US expanding by more than 24% to $17

billion American by December. This could expand even further in 2012.

Your morning glass of orange juice could soon become more expensive,

with the price surging 11% on Tuesday. Pride -- traces of fungus

side have been found in orange juice exported from Brazil.

Electric vehicles were hailed as the New Dawn of driving but last

year, they sold under 18,000 models in the US. Despite this, the

industry still maintains that Electric is the way forward.

This is the Nissan Leaf, the only purely electric vehicles from a

major auto maker on the American market today but last year, it sold

less than 20,000 models worldwide. That has left many people wondering

when the technology in sight this vehicles might go mainstream.

General Motors has suffered similarly negative sales with its

own electric car. Consumers are cautious about the price tag and

the technology but General Motors remains committed. This is brand

new technology, and people are understandably nervous. We did not

accept -- expects it to take off. We ended up selling more than we

thought we would. The industry has the support of the government as a

result of a $22 billion programme of loans for advanced technology.

The costs will drop as a result. And that it will also have to be

part of the line up for carmakers as the US moves to a new fuel

economy standard in 2025. Hence end of the issues like this one, which

puts electric power into existing utility vehicles -- pens

innovations. It is being championed by the man who pioneered General

Motors' electric car. It is going to happen no matter what. It makes

all the sense in the world to start with the vehicles that are most

popular with the American public. Gas prices are the main driving

force. Pushing for pioneering technology in electric car, even if

the combustion engine still dominates.

What will be the most interesting devices of this year? What about a

tablet computer for the kitchen? The Consumer Electronics Show is on

in Las Vegas. Come to Las Vegas for a glimpse of

the future. The Consumer Electronics Show is where many of

the devices we now take for granted made their first debut. This tablet

computer has two screens. Soon television screens with incredibly

sharp pictures. New ways of interacting with technology. This

is a three-dimensional printer, which are all the rage at the

moment. This printer will take your creation and print it for you layer

by layer. Anything you imagine, we can create.

This is an interesting idea - get a new device and put a smartphone

over it and receive a three- dimensional guide on Wed to plug in

the cables. You turn the heat up in the morning and then when you leave.

It will remember your settings and repeat them the next day. What is

different about this one? It is designed for the kitchen. You can

throw anything on it and it will keep working.

How about some red wine? Not a problem. 0 Dio, look at that.

still working. Most of the products on display may look irrelevant by

next year but some could change our lives. Remote controls, microwave

ovens, personal video controls, high-definition television - we do

not need any of these but where would we be today without them?

Visitors to the show include global retailers scouting out the next hit