German institutes raise 2026 and 2027 economic growth forecasts, Handelsblatt reports

FRANKFURT, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Germany's leading economic institutes have raised their forecasts for economic growth in Europe's largest economy for this year and next, Handelsblatt reported on Monday.

• The German economy is forecast to grow 1.3% in 2026, compared with an earlier forecast of 0.6%, Handelsblatt reported citing unnamed sources.

• For 2027, they forecast growth of 1.1%, up from an earlier forecast of 0.9%.

• Germany's sluggish economy has been a big issue in the country's recent elections that have resulted in big gains for the far right and far left.

• The forecasts are a joint effort by five prominent economic institutes - RWI in Essen, the Ifo institute in Munich, IfW in Kiel, IWH in Halle and DIW in Berlin.

• They didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Tom Sims; Editing by Toby Chopra)