On this page you will find frequently asked questions and notices on reports in external sector.

The statistics on services trade by enterprise characteristics enable a sound assessment of enterprises involved in international trade in services. They provide a valuable foundation for economic policy decisions and analyses.

International trade in services refers to the exchange of intangible services such as financial services, tourism or IT between countries. Unlike in goods trade, no physical goods are exchanged. Globalisation, technological developments and the opening-up of markets have greatly increased its importance.

The statistics on services by mode of supply provide information on how the service was provided. A distinction is made between four categories.

German banks tightened their credit standards for loans to enterprises in the fourth quarter of 2025 to an extent not seen since 2023. This is revealed by the Bundesbank's most recent round of the Bank Lending Survey. The banks pointed to the renewed rise in credit risk as the reason for this tightening.

Overview of the most important content-related amendments to the external reporting system.

German enterprises constitute net debtors vis-à-vis non-residents: Standing at €1900 billion at the end of November 2025, their liabilities arising from financial operations and trade credits, exceeded their corresponding assets of €1611 billion by €289 billion. Compared with the previous month, this is a change of -€38 billion.

“In a globally interconnected world, autonomy is an illusion,” Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel told the German “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” newspaper. But even so, Europe still needed to invest in certain areas in order to become more independent. Interviewed jointly with Martin Kocher, Governor of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, they also spoke about the debt ratios of euro area countries, proposals for fiscal consolidation, and central bank independence.