On 29 and 30 November, the Bundesbank invited young people between the ages of 18 and 30 to its sixth Euro20+. Held in Frankfurt am Main, the highlights of the event were the two town hall meetings with Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel and Swiss National Bank Chairman Martin Schlegel. Many of the 200 participants took the opportunity to ask questions on topics such as what is currently happening in the economy, the progress being made with the digital transformation, the state of affairs for monetary policy in the euro area and in Switzerland, and pensions. 

The German financial system has weathered the exceptionally strong rise in interest rates well overall and has proved stable over the past months, the Bundesbank writes in its Financial Stability Review 2024. Credit risk is now increasingly coming under the spotlight, however. The financial system is facing acute challenges due to geopolitical tensions and a weak economy. The economy is also undergoing transformation, said Bundesbank Executive Board member Michael Theurer. Our top priority must be a resilient financial system.

German economic output rose unexpectedly in the third quarter of 2024, according to the Monthly Report. However, none of the key demand components currently give any cause to expect a marked recovery in the short term. “The industrial sector is faced with a difficult environment and is under high pressure to adapt,” the economists write. In addition, the labour market is becoming increasingly gloomy owing to the protracted bout of economic weakness.

Germany’s automotive sector is currently undergoing a process of profound transformation, the Bundesbank explains in its latest Monthly Report. The transition to e-mobility poses major challenges for German manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts, it writes. In addition, the international environment is less favourable, with sluggish growth in the global automotive market and rising competitive pressure from China.