Germany’s current account posted a surplus of €18.6 billion in June 2025, up €11.1 billion on the previous month’s level. This was mainly attributable to the swing to a surplus in invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income. Moreover, the surplus in the goods account increased somewhat.

German export market shares have been contracting since 2017, and especially since 2021. According to the latest Monthly Report, this is largely due to a deterioration in the competitiveness of the German economy. More than three-quarters of the losses in market shares between 2021 and 2023 were the result of supply-side constraints. In this issue, the authors look at what is behind the decline in German export market shares and derive possible structural reforms.

AI is changing the economy and financial markets at a rapid pace. What does this mean for the future of monetary policy? At a joint Bundesbank-SUERF conference, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel and Executive Board member Fritzi Köhler-Geib talked with experts about how AI is reshaping central banking.

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €9.6 billion in May 2025, virtually half the level seen in the preceding month. This was mainly attributable to the swing to a deficit in invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income. There was also a somewhat smaller surplus in goods trading.