The macro-financial environment has deteriorated substantially over the course of 2022. It has been shaped by subdued growth prospects, high inflation as well as rising interest rates and risk premia.

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €14.8 billion in September 2022 and was thus up again significantly on the narrow result of €0.9 billion in the previous month.

The German trading center is experiencing strong growth in foreign exchange trading and OTC interest rate derivatives. These findings were revealed by the survey of foreign exchange and derivatives market activity conducted in April 2022 and covering all major global financial centres. The survey was carried out by central banks in 52 countries in consultation with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

German banks adopted stricter credit standards for loans to enterprises in the third quarter of 2022.  For the second time in a row, credit standards for loans to households for house purchase have been made more restrictive than at any point in time since the introduction of the BLS. Credit standards for consumer credit and other lending were also made considerably more restrictive.

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.

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of only €0.6 billion in August 2022, down €4.8 billion on the previous month’s level. This was due to a decrease in the goods account surplus. The deficit on invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income, changed only slightly.

At the end of December 2021, Germany’s net external assets stood at €2,545 billion, thus amounting to around 71% of nominal gross domestic product (GDP). Both German claims and liabilities vis-à-vis non-residents continued to rise in 2021.

Germany’s small and medium-sized banks and savings banks are well-capitalised for the most part, according to the results of the LSI stress test and a joint BaFin-Bundesbank survey. Credit institutions’ profitability was low, however, and an economic downturn would add to the pressure on their earnings position, Joachim Wuermeling and Raimund Röseler explained at a joint press conference, though the interest rate reversal may provide some relief for institutions in the medium term, they added.