By Emese Bartha

FRANKFURT--German economic expectations rose in December but they remained below the long-term average, the ZEW economic research institute said Tuesday.

The measure of economic expectations rose to minus 17.5 points from minus 24.1 points in November, the institute said. The 6.6-point increase from the previous month beat economists' forecast for a minus 24.0 point reading in The Wall Street Journal's survey. The December reading remained below the historical average of 22.5 points, though.

"Although the rise in economic expectations is a welcome one, it should not be over-interpreted," said ZEW President Achim Wambach.

The assessment of the economic situation has worsened dramatically for both Germany and the Eurozone and this is indicative of relatively weak economic growth in the fourth quarter, Wambach said. The looming international trade dispute and Brexit have a particularly negative impact on private investment and Germany's exports, he added.

The ZEW's measure of the current economic situation in Germany fell 12.9 points to 45.3 points in December.

Write to Emese Bartha at emese.bartha@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 11, 2018 05:34 ET (10:34 GMT)