The change in the global world order and economic system isn’t a temporary phenomenon. Globalisation and digitalisation mean this change will be a perpetual process, First Deputy Governor Sabine Mauderer announced at a symposium organised by the Institute for Banking and Financial History (IBF) and the Center for Financial Studies (CFS). Hosted by the Bundesbank’s Regional Office in Hesse, this event saw participants discuss how trade conflicts can impact on the global economic system. Bundesbank Executive Board member Fritzi Köhler-Geib spoke on a panel about the outlook for the German and European economy.

XML format can be used to submit payment reports pursuant to Annexes Z 4, Z 8 and Z 10 to Z 15 to the Foreign Trade and Payments Regulation. Files can be transmitted using an internet browser or, for larger volumes of data, using an automatic procedure.

The continual observation of price stability is based on analyses of price statistics. Particular attention is usually paid to the German Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and the national Consumer Price Index (CPI), which are both published by the Federal Statistical Office and often used throughout the EU and as inflation measures.

Digital sovereignty is key to ensuring that Germany and Europe remain competitive and capable of action, explains a paper published by Fritzi Köhler-Geib, member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank, together with Claudia Plattner, President of the Federal Office for Information Security, and Kristina Sinemus, Hesse’s Minister for Digitalisation and Innovation. In the paper, they propose implementation-oriented measures for strengthening digital sovereignty.

In April 2026, Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €13.8 billion, down €10.7 billion on the previous month’s level. This was attributable to lower surpluses in the goods account and in invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income. 

The current account balance, including its component balances, is available monthly by country. The euro area is Germany’s most important trading partner. However, among individual countries, the highest revenues are generated with the United States, and the highest expenditures with China.

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.