In the first half of 2015, the Bundesbank registered approximately 50,500 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €2.2 million. This means that the number of counterfeits rose by 31% compared with the second half of 2014. Statistically, this­ equates to 12 counterfeit banknotes per 10,000 inhabitants.

Overall, German credit institutions eased their lending policies somewhat for loans to enterprises in the second quarter of 2015. This was revealed by the latest round of the Bank Lending Survey.

In its meeting on 30 June 2015, the Financial Stability Committee discussed the current risk situation in financial markets, including the market reaction triggered by the events in Greece. The Committee considers the consequences for the German financial system to be minor. It sees the German financial system as robust; to a large extent, German financial institutions have reduced their exposure to Greece a while ago.

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.