The Bundesbank is not distributing a profit for 2020 – for the first time since 1979. The main reason was the greater level of risk provisioning, Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann explained at the press conference to present the annual accounts in Frankfurt am Main. The emergency monetary policy measures taken in response to the coronavirus pandemic are consequently having a noticeable impact on the Bundesbank’s balance sheet. In the previous year, the Bundesbank had distributed a profit of €5.9 billion.

iven the anticipated need for credit in the real economy, BaFin intends to lower the countercyclical capital buffer from 0.25% to 0% as of 1 April 2020. This preventive measure will strengthen the German banking sector’s ability to lend.

BaFin has issued a general administrative act regarding the domestic countercyclical capital buffer rate. The rate is to be raised from 0 percent to 0.25 percent as of 1 July 2019. This increase is a preventive measure intended to enhance the resilience of the banking system.

The Bundesbank posted a profit of €2.0 billion for the 2017 financial year, representing a year-on-year increase of €1.0 billion. Distributable profit amounted to €1.9 billion.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, in 2017 Germany’s public finances recorded their highest surplus since German reunification, at more than €36 billion. The largest surplus (over €16 billion) was achieved by state governments.

Monthly turnover data are available for industry and the retail trade sector. Quarterly time series are published for the services sector. The results for the retail trade are also included in the calculation of private consumption.