“Over time, the IMF has repeatedly managed to emerge stronger from crises. However, the external circumstances have rarely been more challenging than they are today,” Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel write in a guest article at Handelsblatt. “An IMF that focuses on its core mandate is best placed to strengthen the global economic and monetary system,” they explain in a contribution to mark the IMF’s 80th anniversary. 

The financial accounts summarise financial flows in the economy and thereby contribute to the picture provided by the national accounts, which focus on the real economy. Among other things, they show whether, on balance, financial resources were taken up or made available and in what form (eg loans or shares).

In this section you will find a selection of statistics on payments and securities settlement.

Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel opened the Parallel Beginnings art exhibition, a joint endeavour between the Bundesbank and Harvard University, in Boston. Until 31 May, visitors will be able to see selected works from the Bundesbank’s art collection on display in the art gallery of the Center for European Studies (CES). 

Real gross domestic product is likely to have increased again slightly in the first quarter of 2024, according to the April Monthly Report. The somewhat higher level of industrial output and a rise in goods exports are supporting the German economy. Overall, they conclude, there is still no sign of a sustained improvement for the German economy.

Die Leistungsbilanz wies im Februar 2024 einen Überschuss von 29 Mrd. € auf (nach 39 Mrd. € im Vormonat).