German economic output probably grew somewhat more slowly in the second quarter than expected, the Bundesbank writes in its latest Monthly Report. According to the Bundesbank, temporary hopes of an end to the weakness in the industrial sector were not realised, as industrial output declined sharply in May. In contrast to this, the recovery in the services sector continued, buoyed in part by private consumption. The inflation rate was somewhat lower again in June. Bundesbank economists believe that economic activity is likely to strengthen somewhat in the third quarter, but could fall a little short of the expectations expressed in the Bundesbank’s June forecast for Germany.

Cash remains the most frequently used means of payment at the point of sale in Germany. This is one of the findings of the Bundesbank’s latest study on payment behaviour in Germany for 2023. However, card and mobile payments are gaining significant ground, while the share of cash payments is declining. Although this decline is no longer as pronounced as during the coronavirus pandemic, the share of cash payments is falling faster than in previous years,” said Executive Board member Burkhard Balz.

The financial stability reviews produced by the Bundesbank and other central banks have become a well-established tool, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said at an event held by the Bundesbank in Frankfurt am Main to mark the 20th anniversary of the Financial Stability Review. At the event, Bundesbank Executive Board member Michael Theurer, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB Claudia Buch, and representatives from supervisory authorities, academia and banking discussed the challenges facing financial stability. 

Over the past few years, growth in loans to enterprises in Germany has been characterised by unusually strong ups and downs. The current issue of the Monthly Report assesses whether such developments in lending were in line with economic and interest rate developments, and examines the role played by credit supply and credit demand factors. The Bundesbank’s economists anticipate a gradual recovery in loans to enterprises starting from the second half of 2024.

Aus dem von der Europäischen Zentralbank (EZB) durchgeführten Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF) für das dritte Quartal 2024 geht hervor, dass die Erwartungen der Umfrageteilnehmer für die am Harmonisierten Verbraucherpreisindex (HVPI) gemessene Gesamtinflation nach unten korrigiert wurden. 

Die Leistungsbilanz wies im Mai 2024 einen Überschuss von 37 Mrd. € auf und war damit gegenüber dem Vormonat unverändert. In den zwölf Monaten bis Mai 2024 verzeichnete die Leistungsbilanz einen Überschuss von 349 Mrd. € (2,4 % des Euroraum-BIP) nach einem ausgeglichenen Saldo im Zwölfmonatszeitraum bis Mai 2023.