Last year, the Bundesbank’s annual accounts were shaped by the increase in the key interest rates. For the 2023 financial year, the Bundesbank reports a balanced financial result because it was able to use its financial buffers to cushion burdens in the double-digit billions. To this end, the Bundesbank released its risk provisions in full and reduced its reserves. We expect the burdens to be considerable again for the current year. They are likely to exceed the remaining reserves, said Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel at the press conference presenting the Bundesbank’s annual accounts

Last year, the Bundesbank’s annual accounts were shaped by the increase in the key interest rates. For the 2023 financial year, the Bundesbank reports a balanced financial result because it was able to use its financial buffers to cushion burdens in the double-digit billions. 

Verglichen mit Dezember 2023 haben sich folgende Entwicklungen ergeben.

Laut dem geprüften Jahresabschluss der Europäischen Zentralbank (EZB) für 2023 betrug der Jahresfehlbetrag der EZB 1 266 Mio. € (2022: null). Er wird in der Bilanz der EZB als Verlustvortrag ausgewiesen und mit künftigen Überschüssen verrechnet.

German economic output contracted in the final quarter of 2023, according to the February Monthly Report. Weak demand from abroad was still putting a strain on industry, while higher financing costs continued to dampen investment. Bundesbank economists believe that uncertainty about transformation and climate policy is also likely to have weighed on economic activity. Some headwinds will probably persist into the first quarter of 2024 as well. Economic output could therefore decline again somewhat.