The financial assets of households rose by €64 billion, or 1.3%, on the previous quarter to €4,871 billion by the end of the third quarter.

Times of strong growth and low interest rates have seen vulnerabilities build up in the German financial system. In addition, the probability of an economic downturn has increased. “Now is the time to build up sufficient capital and strengthen the financial system’s defences,” said Bundesbank Vice-President Claudia Buch at the press conference on the publication of the new Financial Stability Review.

Despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, euro area enterprises and households have not seen their debt situation deteriorate significantly. This is the conclusion reached by Bundesbank experts after examining developments in greater detail. “The expected normalisation of monetary policy will probably not unduly exacerbate the debt situation of non-financial corporations and households,” they also note in the current edition of the Bank’s Monthly Report

Selected results of the financial accounts by sector