German government accused of sprucing up poverty report

BERLIN (AFP) - The German government on Wednesday published a report on poverty in Europe's top economy amid claims by the opposition and in the media that it had spruced up the real picture.

According to the "Poverty and Wealth Report", German households' incomes grew between 2007 and 2012, largely because the labour market flourished, with unemployment falling from 9.0 per cent to 6.8 per cent over the same period.

The report, based on data compiled by the DIW think-tank, said it was the poorest Germans - who make up around 40 per cent of the overall population - who benefited most from the improvement.

It said that the number of people on welfare benefits decreased over the five-year period.