Real-Time Data

In order to analyse the Bundesbank’s monetary policy in real time, economists at the Bundesbank have compiled a macroeconomic real-time data set for Germany . The data set consists of historical vintages, or snapshots, of time series for real and nominal output, for potential output, for consumer prices and for the Bundesbank’s monetary target variables. In general, the data sets start with vintages from the early 1970s and end in 1999/2000. Extensions are planned for the future.

The data set may be used by macroeconomic researchers to verify empirical results, to analyse policy, or to evaluate forecasts. For a more general overview on real-time data issues, see Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Background documentation: To understand the purposes and structure of the data set, please read Gerberding, C., F. Seitz and A. Worms: How the Bundesbank really conducted monetary policy - An analysis based on real-time data, paper prepared for the Conference on Real-Time Data and Monetary Policy, Eltville, Germany, May 28-29, 2004

Conference on Real-Time Data and Monetary Policy

View the programme and download papers from this May 2004 conference.