Bundesbank Executive Board member Burkhard Balz has spoken out in favour of a future that includes cash: Let us work together to ensure that cash keeps its time-tested place in an increasingly digitalised world, he said in his speech at the Bundesbank’s cash symposium in Berlin. In order to guarantee freedom of choice in payments, access to and acceptance of cash must be maintained, said Mr Balz.

German banks tightened credit standards for loans to enterprises, loan to households for house purchase, and for  consumer credit and other lending to households in the fourth quarter of 2024. Loan demand increased further in all loan categories, especially for loans to households for house purchase.

Die aggregierte Summe der Aktiva der Kreditinstitute mit Sitz in der EU erhöhte sich von 31,54 Bio. € im September 2023 auf 33,12 Bio. € im September 2024, was einerZunahme um 5,01 % entspricht.

The output index for the production sector is calculated monthly by the Federal Statistical Office and includes the sectors mining and quarrying, manufacturing, energy and construction.