The figure was down from 0.7 percent during the third quarter, but still leaves full-year 2010 growth at a robust 3.6 percent as a recovering global economy helped fuel a sharp rise in exports.

“Growth was mainly driven by exports and investments,” the Federal Statistical Office said in a statement.

Germany’s economic recovery since the economic downturn has made it a standout among the 17 countries that use the euro currency.

Analysts said even though the fourth-quarter growth was disappointing, it does not appear to be the start of a longer term slowdown.

“The German economy was able to defy the sovereign debt crisis, but not elemental forces,” said ING economist Carsten Brzeski.

“The strong snowfall in December spoiled the German party, probably preventing an even better growth performance. Nevertheless, looking ahead, the German economy should return to above-trend speed.”

Andreas Rees, an economist with UniCredit, said his company’s calculations indicated that the winter shaved 0.3 percent off fourth-quarter growth by stifling construction work and other business.

“In other words, growth at year-end 2010 would have been 0.7 percent instead of 0.4 percent if the winter weather had not been exceptionally harsh,” he said.

He said the economy showed the same pattern last year in the fourth quarter, and then strongly rebounded “due to a catching-up process” in the first quarter.

“In all probability, this pattern will now — at least partly — be repeated.” A monthly survey of investor confidence released later in the day suggested unbroken confidence in the outlook for Germany.

The ZEW institute’s index, which measures investors’ outlook for the next six months, edged up to 15.7 points for February from 15.4 the previous month — although it still remained below its historical average of 26.7.