BERLIN (AP) — The German government's panel of independent economic advisers has nearly halved its growth forecast for this year and is now predicting that the German economy will grow by only 0.8 percent.

In a regular update, the panel cut its 2019 forecast from the previous 1.5 percent and said growth should accelerate next year to 1.7 percent.

The experts said in a statement that the lower forecast was strongly influenced by the effects of the economy's weak performance at the end of last year, when it was dragged down largely by one-time factors related to new car emissions standards.

They also pointed to high risks for the future from factors such as Brexit uncertainty and global trade disputes.