The Deutsche Bundesbank calculates the basic rate of interest pursuant to section 247 (1) of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) and publishes its current level in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger) pursuant to section 247 (2) of the German Civil Code.

In 2014, non-financial corporations markedly increased their profitability in a predominantly smooth macroeconomic environment, with export markets and the domestic economy both stimulating demand. Following a slump in 2013, pre-tax returns on sales returned to their level of the period from 2010 to 2012 (4¼%).

The United States Congress has ratified the quota and governance reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Bundesbank welcomes this move. "The way is now free for implementing the agreed reforms. This is good news," noted Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann in his capacity as Governor of the Fund for Germany. The quota and governance reform was adopted back in 2010, with Germany ratifying the reform package in 2012.

The German economy is currently following a growth path that is primarily underpinned by domestic demand. Commenting on the Bundesbank's latest semi-annual projection, the Bank's President Jens Weidmann said: "The main drivers are the favourable labour market situation and substantial increases in households' real disposable income, though foreign trade is currently being hampered by frail demand from the emerging market economies." This is making itself felt on industrial investment, the Bundesbank's economists write.

Exceptionally low interest rates remain a salient feature of the financial system setting in Germany. They reflect the global low real economic growth and expansionary monetary policy stance.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Deutsche Bundesbank are jointly organising the Third IMF Statistical Forum on Official Statistics to Support Evidence-based Economic Policymaking. The event will take place in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on 19 and 20 November 2015.

Since the outbreak of the financial and economic crisis, nominal interest rates, particularly on bank deposits, have fallen to historically low levels. This has affected German households in particular, which traditionally hold a significant portion of their financial assets in the form of these deposits. Some are therefore publicly questioning the wisdom of saving in the first place.

There was little overall change to banks’ credit supply policy in Germany in the third quarter of 2015. This is revealed by the responses of the 34 banks domiciled in Germany that were interviewed for the latest Bank Lending Survey. For loans to enterprises credit standards and margins on riskier exposures remained largely unchanged.

As at end-June 2015, the financial assets of households amounted to €5,224 billion, after rising only very moderately in the second quarter, by just over €5 billion, or 0.1%.