The Deutsche Bundesbank mourns the passing of its former president, Helmut Schlesinger. He was Vice-President of Germany’s central bank from January 1980 to the end of July 1991 and then President until the end of September 1993. Mr Schlesinger passed away on 23 December 2024 at the age of 100. 

The German economy is not only struggling with persistent economic headwinds, but also with structural problems, said Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel, presenting the Bundesbank’s new Forecast for Germany. The Bundesbank projects a slight decline of 0.2 % in real gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 and only a slight rise in 2025. The labour market, too, is now responding noticeably to the protracted weakness of the economy. The inflation rate remains elevated in 2025, but is likely to return to 2 % in the years that follow.

The Governing Council today decided to lower the three key ECB interest rates by 25 basis points. In particular, the decision to lower the deposit facility rate – the rate through which the Governing Council steers the monetary policy stance – is based on its updated assessment of the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission.

At a speech in Luxembourg, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel touched on topics including the upcoming interest rate decision by the Governing Council of the ECB and the German economy, amongst other things. The German economy was also the topic of his recent interview with the Financial Times.

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. 

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. 

Speaking at the 34th European Banking Congress in Frankfurt am Main, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel stressed the need for a united Europe in order to meet the many challenges it faces. In a joint appeal with François Villeroy de Galhau, Governor of the Banque de France, the pair highlighted the importance of strengthening Franco-German dialogue as a tool for European progress.

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.

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.

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.