Economy

Analyses of the German Economy and Forecasts

Forecasting growth in Germany and analyzing the country’s economy as a whole as well as segments of it are central parts of DIW Berlin’s work. Here you can find the institute’s economic growth projections, publications on the distribution of income and wealth, and analyses of specific German economic policies.

DIW Weekly Report 36 / 2025

German Economy Poised for Upturn Thanks To Fiscal Package; Uncertainties in the ...

The German economy is slowly emerging from its trough. After a bumpy start to the year, which was marked by tariff-related special effects, growth in 2025 remains subdued at 0.2 percent. However, the economy is gradually picking up speed from the current third quarter onwards. Over the next two years, this will translate into noticeable economic growth of 1.7 and 1.8 percent annually, respectively. ...

  • DIW Weekly Report 40/41/42 / 2024

    Monetary Policy during the Energy Price Crisis: ECB Could Have Contained Inflation Earlier

    Following the end of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Central Bank (ECB) was confronted with an unprecedented increase in energy prices. This led to consumer price inflation in the euro area far beyond the ECB’s inflation target of two percent, at times up to 10 percent. At the same time, the euro area economy was threatened by a recession, which resulted in the ECB facing conflicting objectives ...

    2024| Gökhan Ider, Alexander Kriwoluzky, Frederik Kurcz, Ben Schumann
  • DIW Weekly Report 35/36/37/38/39 / 2024

    DIW Berlin Economic Outlook: Industry Sputtering Globally while the German Economy Stagnates

    The German economy continues to stagnate. After it appeared to finally be growing at the start of 2024, it experienced a slight setback in the second quarter. Although incomes are rising and inflation is now near the two-percent target, people in Germany are saving their money. As investments and exports faltered due to the sluggish industrial sector, the upturn has been delayed for the time being. ...

    2024| Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, Nina Maria Brehl, Hella Engerer, Angelina Hackmann, Pia Hüttl, Konstantin A. Kholodilin, Frederik Kurcz, Laura Pagenhardt, Marie Rullière, Jan-Christopher Scherer, Teresa Schildmann, Ruben Staffa, Kristin Trautmann
  • DIW Weekly Report 24/25/26 / 2024

    DIW Berlin Economic Outlook: Global Economy Recovering Swiftly; German Economy Gaining Momentum

    The German economy began recovering at the beginning of 2024 and has developed better than initially expected. A sharp rise in construction investment, albeit more of a flash in the pan as a result of mild winter weather, along with strong goods exports helped the economy onto its recov¬ery path and masked the disappointing development of private consumption, which sank unexpectedly. However, consumer ...

    2024| Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, Guido Baldi, Nina Maria Brehl, Hella Engerer, Angelina Hackmann, Pia Hüttl, Konstantin A. Kholodilin, Frederik Kurcz, Laura Pagenhardt, Marie Rullière, Jan-Christopher Scherer, Teresa Schildmann, Ruben Staffa, Kristin Trautmann
  • DIW Weekly Report 10/11 / 2024

    DIW Berlin Economic Outlook: Global Economy Experiencing Robust Growth; Germany’s Recovery Is Delayed Further

    The German economy will likely contract in the first quarter of 2024 due to still heightened inflation and weak demand, which was already weighing on German economic output in 2023. Inflation, which is falling in both Germany and the euro area overall, is expected to return close to the European Central Bank's two-percent target, suggesting that a turnaround in interest rates can be expected in early ...

    2024| Timm Bönke, Guido Baldi, Hella Engerer, Pia Hüttl, Konstantin A. Kholodilin, Frederik Kurcz, Violetta Kuzmova-Anand, Theresa Neef, Laura Pagenhardt, Werner Roeger, Marie Rullière, Jan-Christopher Scherer, Teresa Schildmann, Ruben Staffa, Kristin Trautmann
  • DIW Weekly Report 1/2 / 2024

    Decline in Nominal Construction Volume Expected for the First Time since the Financial Crisis; Residential Construction Situation Worsening

    High construction prices and worsened financing conditions are weighing on the construction industry, especially build-ing construction. Despite a nominal increase of six percent in construction expenses in 2023, it decreased by just over one percent in inflation-adjusted terms. In 2024, the nominal construction volume is likely to contract by around 3.5 percent, declining for the first time since ...

    2024| Martin Gornig, Laura Pagenhardt
DIW Weekly Report

Income Distribution in Germany

Real Income on the Rise since 1991 but More People with Low Incomes

  • DIW Weekly Report 50/51/52 / 2023

    DIW Berlin Economic Forecast: Forecast Ranges from Cloudy to Bright

    The recovery of the German economy is becoming an exercise in patience. In the third quarter of 2023 the economy fared worse than expected, in particular because private households continued to spend their money conservatively despite climbing wages and falling inflation. Both private consumption and overall economic output even declined slightly. Now the next challenge has arrived: In November 2023, ...

    2023| Timm Bönke, Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, Guido Baldi, Hella Engerer, Pia Hüttl, Konstantin A. Kholodilin, Frederik Kurcz, Theresa Neef, Laura Pagenhardt, Werner Roeger, Marie Rullière, Jan-Christopher Scherer, Teresa Schildmann, Ruben Staffa, Kristin Trautmann
  • DIW Weekly Report 36/37 / 2023

    German Economy Currently Scarcely Making Headway

    Following the winter recession and stagnation in the second quarter of 2023, the economic upswing is proceeding at a sluggish pace, contrary to expectations over the summer. Weak foreign demand and ongoing inflation have proven to be slowing economic growth. For the time being, private consumption is not driving the German economy and is likely to develop in the second half of 2023 only haltingly. ...

    2023| Timm Bönke, Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, Guido Baldi, Hella Engerer, Pia Hüttl, Konstantin A. Kholodilin, Frederik Kurcz, Theresa Neef, Laura Pagenhardt, Werner Roeger, Marie Rulliere, Jan-Christopher Scherer, Teresa Schildmann, Ruben Staffa, Kristin Trautmann, Jana Wittich
  • DIW Weekly Report 24 / 2023

    DIW Economic Outlook: German Economy Fighting Its Way out of Winter Recession

    The German economy has returned to a recovery course following a slight recession over the winter. Although the war in Ukraine, record inflation, and feared gas shortages have taken their toll on the German economy, a drastic slump failed to materialize. The German economy remained relatively unscathed, only experiencing a slight recession over the past six months; in the final quarter of 2022 and ...

    2023| Timm Bönke, Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, Guido Baldi, Hella Engerer, Pia Hüttl, Konstantin A. Kholodilin, Frederik Kurcz, Theresa Neef, Laura Pagenhardt, Werner Roeger, Marie Rulliere, Jan-Christopher Scherer, Teresa Schildmann, Ruben Staffa, Kristin Trautmann, Jana Wittich
  • DIW Weekly Report 7/8 / 2022

    DIW Berlin Economic Outlook: Summer Upswing to Follow Winter Slump

    The Omicron wave of the coronavirus has impacted economies worldwide, resulting in a bleak winter. Although restrictions on economic and public life have been less severe than at the beginning of 2021 in many places—mainly due to the progress of vaccination campaigns—and there are prospects of easing restrictions in Germany as well, the labor shortage caused by the current rates of infection is noticeable. ...

    2022| Guido Baldi, Paul Berenberg-Gossler, Hella Engerer, Simon Junker, Konstantin A. Kholodilin, Frederik Kurcz, Laura Pagenhardt
  • DIW Weekly Report 41/42 / 2021

    Inflation in the Euro Area: Factors Mostly Have Only a Temporary Effect, but Risk of Prolonged Elevated Inflation Remains

    Headline inflation in the euro area jumped to more than three percent in the summer after years of relatively low inflation rates well below the target of close to but below two percent set by the ECB until July 2021. One of the main reasons for the rise in inflation is the increase in energy prices since the beginning of 2021. However, there are further indications that inflation in the euro area ...

    2021| Kerstin Bernoth, Gökhan Ider
  • DIW Weekly Report 37 / 2021

    German Economy Only Slowly Emerging from the Pandemic: DIW Economic Outlook Autumn 2021

    The German economy is taking longer than expected to overcome the pandemic: It is likely to increase by only 2.1 percent in 2021 and capacities remain markedly underutilized. In addition, global supply bottlenecks are affecting German industry, resulting in stalled domestic production despite high demand. Following a profitable summer due to low case numbers and progress in the vaccination campaign, ...

    2021| Marius Clemens, Simon Junker, Laura Pagenhardt
  • DIW Weekly Report 37 / 2021

    Global Economy Returning to Its Recovery Course after Summer Setbacks: DIW Economic Outlook Autumn 2021

    Recently, the coronavirus pandemic has caused economic developments in major economies to drift apart: While infection rates were declining and production was experiencing strong growth in places such as Europe and the United States in the second quarter of 2021, emerging economies were experiencing strict economic restrictions due to high case numbers. In some of these countries, the economy declined. ...

    2021| Guido Baldi, Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, Hella Engerer, Frederik Kurcz
  • DIW Weekly Report 23/24 / 2021

    German Economy: Uncertainty Remains despite Rebound: DIW Economic Outlook Summer 2021

    By lifting lockdown measures as coronavirus case numbers are rising and the vaccine rollout is proceeding slowly, the German economy is being sent on a stop-go course. Re-opening measures will probably be followed by renewed closures, at least regionally, in order to keep the spread of COVID-19 under control. Nevertheless, industry is robust overall, primarily due to good foreign business. In the service ...

    2021| Claus Michelsen, Marius Clemens, Max Hanisch, Simon Junker, Laura Pagenhardt
  • DIW Weekly Report 11 / 2021

    German Economy between Lockdowns and Normality: DIW Economic Outlook Spring 2021

    By lifting lockdown measures as coronavirus case numbers are rising and the vaccine rollout is proceeding slowly, the German economy is being sent on a stop-go course. Re-opening measures will probably be followed by renewed closures, at least regionally, in order to keep the spread of COVID-19 under control. Nevertheless, industry is robust overall, primarily due to good foreign business. In the service ...

    2021| Claus Michelsen, Paul Berenberg-Gossler, Marius Clemens, Max Hanisch, Simon Junker, Konstantin A. Kholodilin, Laura Pagenhardt
  • DIW Weekly Report 1/2 / 2020

    Construction Industry an Important Pillar of the Economy: Investment Assistance Taking Effect

    The construction industry is increasingly becoming a key pillar of the business cycle in Germany. DIW Berlin’s construction volume calculation indicates a real expansion of construction services by around three percent each year over the next two years. In nominal terms, sales in the construction industry and its related sectors will grow by around 6.5 percent in 2020 and almost six percent in 2021. ...

    2020| Martin Gornig, Claus Michelsen, Laura Pagenhardt
  • DIW Weekly Report 49/50 / 2019

    German Economy: Industry Struggles to Shake of the Crisis: DIW Economic Outlook

    The German economy remains weak as of the fourth quarter of 2019. However, although industrial production is continuing its downward trend, there are signs of a slow recovery. The manufacturing sector is likely to expand production gradually beginning in 2020; therefore, it is less likely the recession in the industry will affect the service sector and construction industry. These sectors are profiting ...

    2019| Claus Michelsen, Marius Clemens, Max Hanisch, Simon Junker, Laura Pagenhardt, Thore Schlaak
  • DIW Weekly Report 6/7 / 2020

    From Iran to Russia to Hong Kong: Geopolitical Risks Are Weighing on the German Economy

    Over the past years, there has been an increase in global geopolitical risk, the most recent example being the intensifying conflict between the USA and Iran. Such geopolitical risks also affect the German economy. A geopolitical shock, defined as an unexpected increase in risk, has a significantly negative effect on the development of the German economy, and stock prices fall. By comparison, German ...

    2020| Max Hanisch
  • DIW Weekly Report 37 / 2019

    German Economy: A Recession Is Not Automatically a Crisis: DIW Economic Outlook

    The slowdown in the global economy and the uncertainties caused by Brexit have affected the export-oriented German economy, which is expected to grow by only 0.5 percent this year. However, the German economy has not slid into a crisis due to marked fiscal policy stimuli and favorable developments on the labor market. Private consumption remains a mainstay of the economy; in addition, there is moderate ...

    2019| Claus Michelsen, Marius Clemens, Max Hanisch, Simon Junker, Konstantin Kholodilin, Thore Schlaak
  • DIW Weekly Report 37 / 2019

    The Global Economy and the Euro Area: Uncertainty Weighing on World Trade and Industry: DIW Economic Outlook

    The ongoing trade conflicts initiated by the US and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit are negatively affecting the global economy. Global trade and investment activity, and thus in many places industrial output, are the areas most impacted. Consumption, however, is continuing to support the economy in many countries. DIW Berlin is expecting global GDP to grow to 3.7 percent this year and to slightly ...

    2019| Claus Michelsen, Guido Baldi, Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, Hella Engerer, Stefan Gebauer, Malte Rieth, Thore Schlaak
  • DIW Weekly Report 22/23/24 / 2019

    German Economy Defying a Turbulent and Uncertain Environment: DIW Economic Outlook

    After a turbulent summer, marked by a weak second and a likely stronger third quarter, the German economy should return to an average pace of growth and end up with a growth rate of 0.9 percent in 2019. Despite the more subdued pace, capacity utilization remains high; employment growth is continuing, albeit more slowly; and the trend of foreign demand is weakening but remains buoyant overall. In this ...

    2019| Claus Michelsen, Martin Bruns, Marius Clemens, Max Hanisch, Simon Junker, Konstantin Kholodilin, Thore Schlaak
  • DIW Weekly Report 22/23/24 / 2019

    Global Economy and the Euro Area: Protectionism Weighing on Trade and Investment: DIW Economic Outlook

    The global economy is holding steady amidst uncertainty, although subdued export and investment growth in some places is already proving the extent to which protectionism and the unresolved trade conflicts are negatively affecting the economy. Contributing to the uncertainty is the continued unclear outcome of Brexit. In many countries, the domestic economy is fighting against a downturn. However, ...

    2019| Claus Michelsen, Guido Baldi, Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, Hella Engerer, Stefan Gebauer, Malte Rieth
  • Press Release

    German economy growing despite uncertainties and risks; global economy continuing to cool down

    According to DIW Berlin estimates, the German economy will continue its solid growth performance in 2019 and 2020. Overall, however, the economy is cooling noticeably and production capacity utilization is returning to normal. This is primarily due to the global economy weakening; it has been strained by China’s weakening economy, trade conflicts, and political uncertainties such as Brexit. The ...

    14.03.2019
  • Weekly Report

    Construction industry momentum continues – state stimulus impacts prices

    By Martin Gornig, Claus Michelsen, and Martin Bruns According to the German Institute for Economic Research construction volume forecast, the country’s construction industry will continue to flourish in the coming years. Companies can count on a rise in the nominal construction volume of around 7.5 percent in 2019 and 6.5 percent next year. The industry’s business cycle continues ...

    14.01.2019| Martin Johannes Bruns, Martin Gornig, Claus Michelsen
  • Press Release

    Immigration from other EU countries has increased Germany’s economic growth since 2011

    Since 2011, over five million immigrants from other EU countries have immigrated to Germany – A DIW Berlin simulation shows that this immigration has increased GDP growth by an average of 0.2 percentage points every year – More needs to be done to improve employment opportunities for the highly qualified, for example by simplifying the procedures for recognizing foreign qualifications, ...

    31.10.2018

Topics: Business cycles

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