As the year draws to a close we would like to give you our warmest thanks for your support and trust. 

We wish you and your families a happy new year and hope that 2025 is healthy, successful and fulfilling for you all.

In an interview with the German business daily newspaper Börsen-Zeitung, Bundesbank First Deputy Governor Sabine Mauderer spoke about the opportunities and challenges facing Germany as a business location, the green transformation of the economy and the impact of climate change on inflation. The interview also covered the significance of the capital market and how artificial intelligence can lead to productivity gains in Germany.

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. 

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.