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Germany's seasonally adjusted jobless rate was stable at 6.2% in February, the BA federal labour agency said, with 2.99 million unemployed

German unemployment hovers under 3 million

The number of unemployed in Germany held steady in February at almost three million people, official data showed today, underscoring the stagnation that has hit Europe's largest economy.

Business • 28 Feb

Inflation eased in four sizeable German states in February, new figures show

German state inflation eases in February

Inflation eased in four sizeable German states in February, preliminary data showed today, suggesting Germany's national inflation rate could also slow down this month, in line with analysts' forecasts.

Business • 28 Feb

The German economy shrank by 0.2% in the final quarter of last year, new figures show today

Weak exports, manufacturing hit Germany at end of 2024

Weakness in manufacturing and exports pushed Germany's economy into a contraction at the end of 2024, final data showed today, with the slowdown a key challenge for the incoming government.

Business • 25 Feb

The leader of Germany's Christian Democrats Friedrich Merz faces complex and lengthy coalition negotiations

Corporate bosses urge Berlin to quickly move on economy

German business leaders have called on Berlin to quickly form a new government, warning Europe's top economy could not afford to waste any time as companies suffer from high costs, red tape and rising competition from abroad.

Business • 24 Feb

Friedrich Merz's conservatives are looking to quickly form a government

Merz warns the US against turning on its allies

Germany's election winner Friedrich Merz warned the United States against turning its back on allies but also urged Europeans to build up their own defence capabilities, saying it was now "five minutes to midnight for Europe".

Europe • 24 Feb

Every German party is traditionally associated with a colour

Germany's colour-coded politics

Germany holds elections after its three-party "traffic light" coalition collapsed last year and could soon have a "black-red" government while a "Jamaica" or "blackberry" alliance is less likely.

World • 23 Feb

The conservative CDU/CSU bloc won 28.5% of the vote, an exit poll published by ZDF public broadcaster showed

Conservatives win German election, AfD second - exit poll

Germany's conservatives won the national election but a fractured vote handed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) its best ever result in second place and left conservative leader Friedrich Merz facing messy coalition talks.

Europe • 23 Feb

Election posters, including of the Volt party and the far-right AfD hang from lampposts in Berlin

Germany votes amid geopolitical upheaval

Germany goes to the polls tomorrow amid a period of unprecedented national and geopolitical upheaval.

Analysis and Comment • 27 Feb

The AfD, under current leader and its candidate for chancellor Alice Weidel, is polling at more than 20% in this campaign

What is the AfD and could it change German politics?

The far-right Alternative for Germany party has been polling above 20% ahead of tomorrow's German federal election and looks set to become the country's second largest party. How much of an impact can it have in the next Bundestag?

Europe • 23 Feb

The incident happened at Berlin's Holocaust memorial near the US embassy

Man injured in stabbing at Berlin's Holocaust memorial

A man was stabbed and seriously injured at Berlin's Holocaust memorial, police have said, two days before a watershed national election.

World • 21 Feb

The HCOB German flash composite Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 51 in February from 50.5 in January - a nine-month high

German growth edges up as manufacturing decline slows

Business activity in Germany's private sector picked up slightly in February, driven by a steady performance in services and reduced drag from manufacturing, according to a survey published today.

Business • 21 Feb

Germany's ZEW economic sentiment index rose to 26 points in February from 10.3 points in January

German investor morale sees strongest increase in 2 years

German investor morale posted its strongest increase in two years in February driven by higher economic expectations ahead of the federal election.

Business • 18 Feb

Germany at particular risk from US tariffs - Bundesbank

Germany is particularly vulnerable to US trade tariffs, which could curb growth for years to come and hold back an economy already suffering through two years of contraction in a row, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said today.

Business • 17 Feb

Members of German union Verdi pay their respects at the scene where a car drove into a crowd in the southern German city

Prosecutor suggests religious motive behind Munich attack

Germany federal prosecutors said there were suspicions that a car ramming attack in Munich was religiously motivated and intended to undermine Germany's democratic order, and took over an investigation into the incident.

Europe • 14 Feb

Bettina Orlopp, the CEO of Commerzbank, has been working on the bank's strategy update for months

Commerzbank to cut 3,900 jobs as it fends off UniCredit

Commerzbank said today it would cut 3,900 jobs and unveiled more ambitious financial targets as part of a strategy revamp designed to head off UniCredit's advances for a tie-up between the German and Italian lenders.

Business • 13 Feb

A large area around the incident has been cordoned off by police

Man arrested, over 30 injured in Munich ramming attack

At least 30 people were hurt when a car driven by an Afghan asylum seeker ploughed into a crowd in Munich in what the state premier said was probably an attack, putting security back in focus before next week's federal election.

World • 13 Feb

German exports rose by 2.9% in December compared with the previous month, new figures show today

German exports rise, but industrial production falls

German exports rose in December, but industrial production fell more than expected, showing that the outlook for the euro zone's largest economy remains anything but rosy.

Business • 07 Feb

German inflation remained at 2.8% this month preliminary data showed today

German inflation holds steady at 2.8% in January

Germany's annual inflation rate held steady in January but core inflation eased markedly, keeping intact expectations of further interest rate cuts from the European Central Bank.

Business • 31 Jan

New figures show that the number of unemployed in Germany increased by 11,000 in seasonally adjusted terms to 2.88 million

German unemployment rate rises with economic malaise

Germany's unemployment rate rose at the start of the year, despite a smaller than expected increase in the number of people out of work, as the weakness of Europe's biggest economy takes its toll in the labour market.

Business • 31 Jan

Germany's gross domestic product fell by 0.2% in the fourth quarter compared with the previous three-month period, new figures show today

Germany's recession fears return ahead of election

The German economy contracted more than expected in the final quarter of last year, reigniting recession fears as Europe's biggest economy is beset by political uncertainty ahead of a snap election.

Business • 30 Jan

German output is now expected to increase by only 0.3% this year, down from a previous estimate of 1.1% made in October

Germany slashes 2025 growth forecast to 0.3%

The German government has cut its growth projections for 2025 amid domestic political instability and the looming threat of higher US tariffs under President Donald Trump.

Business • 29 Jan

The Ifo institute said its business climate index increased to 85.1 in January from 84.7 in the previous month

German business sentiment unexpectedly rises in January

German business morale unexpectedly improved in January thanks to a more positive assessment of the current economic situation, a survey showed today, although analysts said many companies remain pessimistic with uncertainty rifeahead of elections.

Business • 27 Jan

The HCOB German flash composite Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 50.1 in January, up from 48 in December, reaching a seven-month high and crossing the 50 threshold that separates growth from contraction

German business activity stabilises in January, PMI shows

Business activity in Germany's private sector stabilised in January, marking an end to a six-month contraction as services growth offset a continued decline in manufacturing output, according to a survey published today.

Business • 24 Jan

Speaking in Davos today, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the importance of 'cool heads' in the face of uncertainty

In Davos, Scholz calls for 'cool heads'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced cautious optimism today on the potential for German-US relations under President Donald Trump, citing good first talks with his administration.

Business • 21 Jan

German inflation eased slightly in December to 2.8%, figures confirmed today

More German companies want to raise prices, Ifo says

The Ifo price expectations index in Germany rose to its highest level since April 2023 in December, with all economic sectors contributing to the increase, the economic institute Ifo said today.

Business • 16 Jan