Economic output in Germany was up in the first quarter of 2025, the Bundesbank writes in its latest Monthly Report. Exports of goods, in particular, but probably also investment and private consumption increased. However, the Bundesbank economists expect the economy to more or less stagnate in the second quarter. This is due to the wide range of burdens that persist and the additional headwinds caused by the tightening of US tariff policy.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, German households’ nominal financial assets grew by €136 billion, totalling €9,050 billion as at the end of the year. This is now the fifth increase in succession, continuing the growth streak that has been ongoing since the end of 2023. Households increased their claims by €79 billion and generated valuation gains of €57 billion.

At a meeting of the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel addressed the geopolitical challenges currently being faced. Speaking at a joint press conference with the new Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil in Banff, Canada, Mr Nagel said that while global economic activity had still been fairly robust at the start of the year, benefiting from the anticipatory effects of announced tariffs, the world economy was now struggling in the face of tightened US tariff policies and great uncertainty.

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €34.1 billion in March 2025, up €7.8 billion on the previous month’s level. This was attributable to larger surpluses in the goods account and especially in invisible current transactions, which comprises services as well as primary and secondary income. 

Das Brutto-Emissionsvolumen am deutschen Rentenmarkt lag im März mit 135,1 Mrd € nur leicht unter dem Wert des Vormonats (136,7 Mrd €). Nach Abzug der Tilgungen und bei Berücksichtigung der Eigenbestandsveränderungen der Emittenten wurden im Ergebnis heimische Rentenwerte für 26,0 Mrd € begeben. Zugleich stieg der Umlauf ausländischer Schuldtitel am deutschen Markt um 19,9 Mrd €. Damit erhöhte sich der Umlauf von Schuldverschreibungen in Deutschland im März um 45,9 Mrd €.