In an interview with the German business magazine “WirtschaftsWoche”, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel discusses weakening domestic economic activity, a reform of the debt brake and future monetary policy decisions. “If prices and the economy develop as expected, I would be in favour of cutting the key interest rates in June,” Mr Nagel explains. However, he also warns that the return of inflation to target is not a given.

Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel opened the Parallel Beginnings art exhibition, a joint endeavour between the Bundesbank and Harvard University, in Boston. Until 31 May, visitors will be able to see selected works from the Bundesbank’s art collection on display in the art gallery of the Center for European Studies (CES). 

Real gross domestic product is likely to have increased again slightly in the first quarter of 2024, according to the April Monthly Report. The somewhat higher level of industrial output and a rise in goods exports are supporting the German economy. Overall, they conclude, there is still no sign of a sustained improvement for the German economy.

“Over time, the IMF has repeatedly managed to emerge stronger from crises. However, the external circumstances have rarely been more challenging than they are today,” Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel write in a guest article at Handelsblatt. “An IMF that focuses on its core mandate is best placed to strengthen the global economic and monetary system,” they explain in a contribution to mark the IMF’s 80th anniversary.