In addition to the regularly recurring questions on enterprise metrics, expectations and access to loans, the Bundesbank frequently asks enterprises questions on various current issues. A selection of the results is presented here.

Credit negotiations

In the second quarter of 2024, 15.1% of firms reported conducting negotiations with a view to taking out a loan in the previous quarter. This figure was just under 1 percentage point higher than when firms were asked the same question in the first quarter of 2024 and was significantly higher than the low of 12.5% recorded in the first quarter of 2023.

When asked about the reasons behind their credit negotiations, 54% of firms stated that they did so to finance an investment, while 35% of firms wished to finance running costs.

In the second quarter of 2024, 85% of firms reported that they did not conduct any negotiations with a view to taking out a loan in the previous quarter. Again, when asked why, 64% of firms responded that there was no need for financing, while 42% stated that their financing needs could be met using own resources. That said, 11% of firms refrained from credit negotiations because they did not want to be dependent on debt financing.