According to figures from the Federal Statistical Office, in the first quarter of 2017 the German economy grew by 0.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. Based on provisional calculations, positive contributions came from both domestic and foreign demand.

The European Central Bank has expanded the options available for visually presenting statistical data. On its “Our statistics” website, users can now deploy a new tool to show statistics in the form of network graphs, accompanied by explanatory texts.

The working-age population in Germany is becoming increasingly old and will diminish in size in future. According to a Bundesbank projection, this could considerably dampen growth prospects for the German economy in the medium to long term. While the current high level of immigration is mitigating this trend, it is unable to stop it.

Although central bank reserves have gone up sharply in the past few years, broader money has grown only moderately. In the April issue of the Monthly Report, the Bundesbank's authors look at the role of banks, non-banks and central banks in the money creation process and also explain how non-standard monetary policy measures impact on money growth.

The finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20 countries met in Washington to continue their discussions on core issues of the German G20 presidency. Besides global economic growth prospects, the main focus was on financial market regulation and the further development of global economic and financial governance.

The Bundesbank believes that the German economy is likely to have picked up significant momentum in the first quarter. These are the findings of the Bundesbank's April Monthly Report. Both sentiment indicators and "hard" economic data paint a favourable picture, the Bundesbank economists report.

Since 4 April, the new €50 banknote has been in circulation in all 19 member countries of the euro area. It represents the fourth banknote in the so-called “Europa series” that also comprises the new €5, €10 and €20 notes, all of which have now entered circulation.

Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann used a "town hall"-type meeting with readers of the Rheinische Post newspaper in Düsseldorf to warn of the dangers of leaving monetary policy in accommodative mode for longer than absolutely necessary. "We have to call time on the phase of low rates as soon as price stability allows it," Mr Weidmann explained.

The economic situation in Germany is charting a positive course. According to the current issue of the Monthly Report, industrial enterprises, in particular, have been benefiting from lively demand from within Germany and elsewhere.

G20 finance ministers and central bank governors reaffirm their commitment to international economic and financial cooperation at their two-day meeting in Baden-Baden.