The financial accounts summarise financial flows in the economy and thereby contribute to the picture provided by the national accounts, which focus on the real economy. Among other things, they show whether, on balance, financial resources were taken up or made available and in what form (eg loans or shares).

Households’ financial assets fell by €98 billion in the second quarter of 2022 and thus for the second time in succession. At the end of the quarter they stood at €7,496 billion.

In the third quarter of 2022, households’ financial assets shrank for the third time in a row owing to persistent valuation losses. A phase of negative growth in financial assets lasting longer than this was last seen during the global financial crisis.

Households’ financial assets grew by €161 billion to €7,618 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021. Taking all transactions and valuation effects into account, growth was thus significantly higher than in the (weak) third quarter.

In the first quarter of 2025, German households’ financial assets grew only slightly, closing the quarter at €9,053 billion. This represents a rise of €9 billion on the previous quarter. Households increased their claims by €90 billion, but suffered valuation losses of €82 billion.