Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann has spoken out in favour of eliminating the red tape involved in setting up a business. At a speech in Düsseldorf, Mr Weidmann pointed out that “reforms to make it easier for start-ups to enter the market would also enhance competition and spur innovative power.”

Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann has called for further reform steps in Europe. "Much has been done – in the member states as well as at the European level," Weidmann said in Athens. Despite this progress, there is still need for further action, he said.

Economic output in Germany dipped slightly in the third quarter of 2018. As the Deutsche Bundesbank's latest Monthly Report explains, this was caused by one-off factors. “Despite these temporary one-off effects, the economic boom in Germany continues,” write the Bundesbank’s economists.

The European Central Bank has expanded the options available for visually presenting statistical data. On its “Our statistics” website, users can now deploy a new tool to show statistics in the form of network graphs, accompanied by explanatory texts.

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.

In 2017, the Deutsche Bundesbank commissioned a comprehensive study on the history of central banking in Germany between the years 1924 and 1970. 

After the year got off to a moderate start, the German economy rebounded quite strongly in the second quarter of 2018. The Bundesbank believes that the German economy is likely to remain on a sound growth path in the current quarter. However, as is explained further in the August issue of the Monthly Report, the pace of growth could tail off slightly.