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.

The German economy has recovered more quickly than expected from the cyclical lull in the middle of last year and has returned to a growth path that is underpinned by domestic and foreign demand. Domestic economic activity is benefitting from the favourable labour market situation and the substantial wage increases.

Renminbi trade in Germany has experienced strong growth: German-issued securities denominated in renminbi (RMB) have more than quadrupled since last spring. The issuance of numerous "Goethe bonds" and other debt securities caused the volume to rise from just under RMB 5 billion to over RMB 21 billion.

The detailed results of the foreign direct investment stock statistics for 2010 to 2013 are now available for the first time based on the new calculation method, which was implemented as part of the harmonisation measures in accordance with the new OECD Benchmark Definition of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This has resulted in a significant reduction in FDI stocks.

The financial and sovereign debt crisis which has afflicted the euro area for more than seven years now has clearly left a mark on the financial market, having forced monetary policymakers to roll out highly accommodative measures and legislators to make adjustments to the regulatory framework.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, the financial assets of households rose by just over €69 billion (ie 1.4%) on the quarter, climbing to a figure of €5,072 billion. Together with the transaction-related acquisition of financial assets which totalled just over €40.5 billion, valuation gains in the amount of around €28.5 billion contributed to this increase in assets.

German credit institutions only marginally adjusted their lending policies in all three surveyed lines of business in the first quarter of 2015.

According to provisional calculations, general government debt in Germany as defined in the Maastricht Treaty amounted to approximately €2.168 trillion at the end of 2014. The debt level thus increased by €2 billion on the year. Owing to nominal GDP growth, the debt ratio, ie the level of debt in relation to gross domestic product (GDP), decreased by 2.4 percentage points to 74.7%.