The Bundesbank is not distributing a profit to the Federal Government for 2020 – for the first time since 1979. The main reason was the greater level of risk provisioning.

The European sovereign debt crisis remains the greatest threat to financial stability in Germany. The Bundesbank considers that a substantial worsening of the situation would have a significant adverse impact on German banks and insurers. In addition, low interest rates, high liquidity and potential exaggerations in the German real estate market could pose a future threat to financial stability.

Low interest rates and an ample supply of central bank liquidity have helped to ease the tensions on the international financial markets. So far this year, the German financial system has also benefited from this situation. However, the Bundesbank believes that these exceptional financial conditions present risks to financial stability the longer they prevail.

The June 2022 edition of the Monthly Report outlines the outlook for the German economy for 2022 to 2024 and lays out long-term scenarios and options for reforming the pension insurance scheme. Furthermore, it analyses both bracket creep in income tax rates and the current developments and challenges facing public finances in the euro area. The report concludes with an article on the survey of firms conducted by the Deutsche Bundesbank and how it is used to assess the financial situation of the corporate sector.