05.03.2026

At a press conference today, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel and First Deputy Governor Sabine Mauderer presented the Bundesbank’s Annual Report for 2025. The loss for the year declined further in 2025, as expected. In view of a significant improvement in profitability, the Bundesbank reported a loss for the year of €8.6 billion, Mr Nagel explained.

The Bundesbank identified just under 68,000 counterfeit euro banknotes in German payments in 2025. This represented a 6.1 % decrease in counterfeit banknotes year on year. 

German economic output rose significantly in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the Monthly Report. Growth towards the end of the year was primarily driven by private and government consumption. Households probably also benefited from strong wage growth. Industry grew its production and construction output rose significantly. According to the experts, there is no sign of any short-term trend reversal for the better in the labour market. The inflation rate stood at around 2 % at the turn of the year.

January 2026 saw the EU conclude two major trade agreements – with the Mercosur countries and with India – culminating many years of negotiations. These agreements largely eliminate trade barriers and could, over the long run, help diversify the EU’s trade relations. Ratification of the two deals is still pending, however. Writing in the latest Monthly Report, Bundesbank experts illuminate the main features of the trade agreements and explore their potential economic impact.