Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €11.8 billion in August 2021, down €6.1 billion on the previous month’s level. While the surplus in invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income, saw a slight increase, the surplus in the goods account declined much more sharply.   

Consumer prices in Germany were up sharply at the start of the year, partly because households’ consumption behaviour has changed in certain areas during the coronavirus pandemic, as shown by an analysis in the current issue of the Monthly Report.

amplus is a concept developed by the Bundesbank for improving small-value cross-border payments between individuals –  a concept to supplement established cross-border payment solutions that is designed to make credit transfers to individuals (remittances) more efficient in low and middle-income countries.

Germany’s current account posted a surplus of €17.6 billion in July 2021, down €5.0 billion on the previous month’s level. Although the surplus in the goods account rose, the surplus in invisible current transactions, which comprise primary and secondary income as well as services, declined significantly.

In July, the surplus in the goods account increased by €1.1 billion on the month to €17.5 billion, with imports of goods contracting more sharply than exports.

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €6.5 billion in May 2020, putting it €2.6 billion below its level in April.

“Cash in times of turmoil” – it was under this banner that the Bundesbank held its fifth International Cash Conference. Executive Board member Johannes Beermann was joined at the virtual, English-language event by a number of experts, including ECB Governing Council member Fabio Panetta.