In the third quarter of 2024, German households’ financial assets grew by €197 billion, closing the quarter at a new record high of €9,004 billion. This is a continuation of the uninterrupted growth trend that has lasted since end-2023.

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €24.1 billion in November 2024, up €10.4 billion on the previous month’s level. This was caused by a larger surplus in the goods account and especially by the shift to a surplus in invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income.

The Deutsche Bundesbank calculates the basic rate of interest pursuant to Section 247(1) of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) and publishes its current level in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger) pursuant to Section 247(2) of the German Civil Code.

The Deutsche Bundesbank mourns the passing of its former president, Helmut Schlesinger, who died on 23 December 2024 at the age of 100. 

Paying with cash or a debit card is the cheapest payment method for consumers in Germany. Cash incurs the lowest costs per payment transaction, while debit cards are cheapest in relation to the amount of money spent. Paying with a credit card is in any case considerably more expensive. These are the conclusions drawn by a study entitled “Costs of cash and card payments from a consumer perspective”, which was carried out on behalf of the Deutsche Bundesbank.

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €12.5 billion in October 2024, down €8.8 billion on the previous month’s level. This was caused by the smaller surplus in the goods account and especially by the shift to a deficit in invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income.

The National Cash Forum, initiated by the Deutsche Bundesbank in February 2024, has launched a new website to serve as a neutral source of information on all aspects of cash.

The German financial system has weathered the period of exceptionally strongly rising interest rates well overall and remained stable over the past twelve months, too. Interest rates have gone back down in the meantime.

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €22.6 billion in September 2024, up €5.5 billion on the previous month’s level. This was caused by the larger surplus in the goods account and especially by the shift to a surplus in invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income.